Zombo, (UG): The Kingdom of Alur in Northern Uganda has set September 30th as the date for commencement of the second edition of the Girls Football Gala aimed at promoting girl child education in Zombo District.
The football gala dubbed “COPU P’MIN UBIMO 2023” which will be conducted under the theme “Promoting education and retention of girls in schools” is set to attract four teams from the different chiefdoms classified as Okoro, Padyere, Jonam and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zombo District Development Plan 2015/2020 showed an estimated population of children at 80,000 with only 63,590 enrolled in schools. On average, the school completion rate stands at 37 per cent, 47 per cent and 27 per cent rates for enrolled boys and girls respectively.
This background check relatedly cuts across the different districts ( Nebbi, Pakwach and into some parts of eastern DR Congo), chiefdoms of Alur Kingdom. To realign the 37 per cent school dropout rate, the Kingdom is organizing a football Gala for the young school-going girls across the chiefdom coded “COPU P’MIN UBIMO” which is translated as the trophy for Queen Mother.
During the launch of the official activities of the sports gala over the weekend, Mr Ronny Rupiny, the Head of Programmes at the Kingdom secretariat said this is the second edition of the female sports gala which also counteracts the men’s version (the most popular one).
“You all know we have the men’s version of Copu pa Ubimo but we felt that we needed to bring in place the female version. As an institution we value women, we value girls too,” Mr Rupiny said.
Social norm research of 2020 conducted by non non-governmental organization, Plan International intrinsic partner to Alur kingdom, pinned increasing child marriages and teenage pregnancy to some cultural practices and activities hence the need to devise other avenues and activities that actively engaged the youth.
Mr. Sam Kumakech, Director for Youth, Information and Sports at Alur Kingdom echoed that several accolades and material support will be availed to celebrate the winning teams in forms including trophies, cows, goats and medals.
The rotational Copu P’MIN UBIMO Gala will be played in Bar -Okoro where all the four teams are expected to report. The first edition of the tournament held last year (2022) at Luo Grounds in Nebbi District was won Padyere Team.
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