Over the weekend, the usually quiet Nakaloke Central in Mbale City turned into a scene of warmth, tears, and loud applause.
Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Ismael Watenga, nursing an injury he picked up in Morocco, didn’t let pain stop him from showing up for his people.
Through the Ismael Watenga Foundation, he led the third edition of his growing charity initiative, offering support to mothers, women, and youth across the Bugisu region.
Watenga’s foundation, officially registered in 2023, has come a long way since its modest beginnings in 2019. What started as one footballer trying to help struggling teammates at Nakaloke playgrounds has blossomed into a full-on mission to uplift entire communities.
At Mbale Main Regional Referral Hospital, Watenga’s team handed out sugar, soap, sanitary pads, and Mama kits to new mothers—many of whom had given birth without the most basic supplies.
The foundation also gave out clothes and sewing machines to vulnerable women and unemployed youth, helping them gain skills in tailoring and pad-making. The aim? To give them tools to rebuild their lives and chase independence.
“In 2019, I saw players struggling to train at Nakaloke playgrounds without proper equipment, so I began supporting them with whatever little I could,” Watenga shared.
“Later, I was encouraged to use my name as a national team player to start a foundation so that others could join me in this cause—and today, these are the fruits of that journey. Together, we are changing lives.”
What made the weekend even more powerful was Watenga’s presence just days after sustaining an injury while on duty for the national team.
Wrapped in bandages but determined as ever, he proved that leadership isn’t always about lifting trophies. Sometimes, it’s about showing up when it hurts, and giving when it’s hardest.
Mothers at the hospital called him an angel. Local leaders, musicians, and even fellow national players were left inspired, praising Watenga as a beacon of hope and a servant leader who leads not with words, but with action.
For many in Bugisu, Watenga is no longer just a goalkeeper—he’s become a symbol of possibility. His foundation is now planting new dreams among young boys who no longer just want to wear the Cranes jersey, but also walk in his footsteps as givers and changemakers.
