A 14-day outreach mission by Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) has left a lasting footprint across eastern Uganda, using cricket as a vehicle to inspire young people and promote important life lessons beyond the boundary ropes.
The visiting CWB delegation arrived in Uganda on 1st March through Entebbe International Airport where they were received by a representative from Cricket Uganda Jonathan Kiiza.
The touring group was led by Mark Campbell and included Lara, Holly, Alice, Ali, Ken and Jim, all of whom travelled to the country to deliver a community-focused cricket development programme.
Their journey took them across three districts Kumi District, Bukedea District and Kapchorwa District where the team spent two weeks visiting schools and engaging learners through introductory cricket sessions blended with social education.
Working alongside local coaches Oparok and Arnold Tembo, the CWB volunteers conducted energetic cricket clinics that introduced children to the basics of the game while weaving in conversations around gender equality, women empowerment, teamwork and mutual respect.
The sessions created a safe and inclusive environment where boys and girls participated side by side, reinforcing the programme’s message that cricket can be a platform for unity and opportunity.
Across the three districts, the initiative reached more than 10,000 children, many of whom picked up a cricket bat or ball for the very first time.
For many schools, the visits represented not just a sporting experience but also a moment of inspiration, as learners discovered how sport can open doors to confidence, leadership and shared responsibility.
Each district visit culminated in a vibrant cricket festival that brought together participating schools for a day of fun matches and demonstrations.
The festivals offered the children an opportunity to showcase the skills they had learnt during the sessions while celebrating the spirit of teamwork that had been emphasised throughout the programme.
The final festival was held in Kapchorwa, marking the close of a packed two-week schedule that blended cricket coaching with meaningful community engagement.
Following the outreach, the CWB team travelled back to Entebbe where they attended matches at the ICC Under-19 Women’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier.
The visit provided a chance to interact with international teams, including Sierra Leone and Mozambique, further strengthening cricket’s growing network across the continent.
The tour concluded with a special moment as CWB head Mark Campbell presented the Player of the Match award to Sierra Leone’s Thereza Tommy during the tournament, symbolically bringing to an end a journey that had blended cricket development with community empowerment.
For the thousands of children reached across eastern Uganda, the message was clear cricket is more than just a game played inside the boundary ropes; it is a pathway for confidence, equality and collective progress, where everyone moves forward together