430 Girls. One weekend. A glimpse of what’s possible.
On 7th and 8th March 2026, as the world marked International Women’s Day, something powerful happened on the football pitches in Kampala. 430 girls showed up. Not just to play, but to be seen, to belong, and to grow. More than a tournament At first glance, the Women’s Derby looks like a football competition. 36 …
On 7th and 8th March 2026, as the world marked International Women’s Day, something powerful happened on the football pitches in Kampala.
430 girls showed up. Not just to play, but to be seen, to belong, and to grow.
More than a tournament
At first glance, the Women’s Derby looks like a football competition.
36 teams. Two age categories (U13 and U15). Two days of matches, from group stages to finals.
But what matters most isn’t the format. It’s what the space makes possible.
Before every match, it starts here, together.
A space where girls take the pitch without hesitation. Where confidence grows with every touch of the ball. Where teamwork, voice, and belief start to take shape. Because for many of these girls, opportunities like this are still rare.
More than a match, a space to belong.
What we saw on the ground
Yes, there were winners.
U13 Champions: Nalwana Islamic School (1–0 vs Azteks Academy Entebbe)
U15 Champions: El Cambio Academy (1–0 vs God’s Way High School)
But the real story was everywhere else. It was in:
The girl calling for the ball for the first time
Teammates encouraging each other after a mistake
Quiet confidence turning into leadership
Friendships forming across teams and communities
You could feel it, this wasn’t just about football.
Why this matters
At Watoto Wasoka, we don’t see football as the end. We see it as the entry point. The Women’s Derby is part of something bigger:
Creating safe spaces for girls to show up and participate
Building confidence and social inclusion through play
Opening pathways into learning, leadership, and wellbeing
Events like this are reach. But they matter, because they open the door. And for many girls, that door has been closed for too long.
A growing movement, not a one-off
This wasn’t the first Women’s Derby. And it won’t be the last. Each year, it grows not just in numbers, but in meaning. What started as a tournament is becoming a platform for visibility, for opportunity, and for shifting what is consider “normal” for girls in sport.
430 girls this year. More next year.
But beyond the numbers, the goal is simple: more girls who feel they belong.
Because every girl deserves the chance to play
That’s what stayed with us most. Not the goals. Not the trophies. But the moments where you could see something changing: in how girls saw themselves, and what they believed was possible.
