For one young refugee in Uganda, basketball is more than a game

For one young refugee in Uganda, basketball is more than a game

He sees young people who, like him, arrived in Uganda after fleeing insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Many are trying to continue school, find opportunities and build a future in a place where daily life can be difficult.Stephane knows how easy it can be for young refugees to lose direction. “When arriving here as a refugee, I found many challenges,” he said. “I saw how easy it is for a young refugee to lose control of his future.”For some, he said, resettlement abroad can feel like the only hope. But that process can take years, sometimes decades. In the meantime, many young people are left waiting, with limited access to education, activities or work.That realisation led Stephane and his teammates to drive change.Empowering refugees In 2020, he founded the Refugee Basketball Academy (RBA), an initiative that empowers refugee and marginalized youth through sports, mentorship and education

© Fahad Ssimbwa

Stephane Kulimushi (in black shirt) founded the Refugee Basketball Academy in 2020.

He used the entrepreneurship training he received through the Cosmo Foundation to grow a small idea into a programme that has trained more than 100 players.The academy runs practices, tournaments and mentoring sessions. It also records videos of players to help connect them with schools and other opportunities.So far, Stephane said, seven young people have received scholarships through the programme.But for him, the goal is not only to produce strong athletes.“We do not just build basketball players, we are building leaders,” he said.