Ugandan football legend and FIFA Lead for Women’s Football Development in Africa, Doreen Nabwire, has cast the growth of the women’s game as a story of recovery — from wasted potential to deliberate, structured progress.
Speaking at the unveiling of the FUFA Women Super League Commercial Strategy in Kampala, Nabwire shifted focus from celebration to reflection, recalling an era when East Africa brimmed with raw talent but lacked the systems to nurture it.
According to her, previous generations of female footballers faced a ceiling created not by ability, but by absence — no organised leagues, limited exposure and weak development pathways. The region’s promise, she noted, remained largely invisible on the global stage.
Today, however, the script is changing. Nabwire credited the ripple effect of recent FIFA Women’s World Cups — particularly France 2019 and Australia/New Zealand 2023 — for accelerating global attention and investment in the women’s game. Those tournaments, she explained, did more than break attendance and viewership records; they reshaped policy and funding priorities.
In response, FIFA introduced structured development frameworks targeting every layer of the sport — from grassroots festivals designed to bring more girls into football, to competitive leagues, administrative training and leadership empowerment programmes.
Beyond participation, Nabwire underscored a crucial shift: placing women in positions of influence. Increasing female representation in governance and decision-making bodies, she said, is central to safeguarding long-term growth.
Her message was clear — sustainable progress in women’s football will not rely on talent alone. It will depend on systems that connect grassroots participation to elite performance, while ensuring women help steer the future of the game.
Absolutely fantastic article! It’s so inspiring to see Nabwire’s work and dedication to rebuilding women’s football in Uganda – truly a vital story.