FC Barcelona and UNHCR Empower Refugee Youth in Uganda Through Sport

Barça Foundation and UNHCR Strengthen Support for Uganda’s Refugees with Alfonso Herrera Highlighting Impact of Sports.

The FC Barcelona Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), has reinforced its commitment to refugee support through a powerful, week-long field visit to the Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements in southwestern Uganda. This initiative is part of an ongoing partnership between the two organizations, formalized in 2022, that leverages the transformative power of sport to uplift refugee children and youth around the world.

The visit was led by Dr. Marta Segú, Executive Director of the FC Barcelona Foundation, and was notably joined by Mexican actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Alfonso Herrera. The delegation engaged directly with refugee communities to witness firsthand how sports programmes are helping young people recover from trauma, build resilience, and find hope in displacement.

Uganda: Africa’s Largest Refugee-Hosting Nation

Uganda currently shelters more refugees than any other African nation, with over 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers from countries like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Sudan. Since January alone, more than 30,000 new arrivals—mostly women and children—have crossed into Uganda from the DRC, representing a staggering 450% increase compared to the same period last year. Many arrive malnourished and emotionally scarred by conflict, adding to the strain on Uganda’s generous but overstretched refugee response system.

Despite the scale of the crisis, international support remains inadequate. As of now, donors have contributed just 46% of the $857 million needed for the 2024–2025 refugee response plan in Uganda. The visit by FC Barcelona Foundation and UNHCR aims to shine a spotlight on the urgent need for increased global support and solidarity.

Sport as a Pathway to Healing and Empowerment

The heart of the joint FC Barcelona Foundation and UNHCR mission lies in their shared belief in the power of sport to transform lives. In Uganda, their partnership has directly benefited more than 8,400 refugee and host community youth through structured sports programming that fosters inclusion, mental health, leadership, and social cohesion.

Alfonso Herrera shared his emotional experience during the visit:

“I have met many young refugees who have experienced loss and are facing challenges related to mental health. Through sport, they have found belonging and community. I have been touched by the incredible impact that sport can have on the lives of refugees.”

Herrera spent time speaking with young refugees from both the DRC and Sudan, hearing their stories and witnessing their resilience.

“Every day, people arrive in Uganda. Many arrive malnourished, sick and carrying the horrors of war. Most are women and children,” he added.

Marta Segú emphasized how the programme is making a tangible difference:

“Visiting this joint programme in Uganda, after two years of implementation, we have seen the positive impact of sport as a tool to improve the lives of children and youth. Through sport, we could also see the benefits for the well-being of the girls.”

A Global Partnership Making a Global Impact

The Uganda initiative is just one of several global programmes supported through the partnership between UNHCR, its national association in Spain (ACNUR Comité español), FC Barcelona, and the Barça Foundation. Since its inception in 2022, this partnership has delivered sports-based empowerment projects across four continents, including in countries like El Salvador, Türkiye, and Malaysia.

In Uganda, these programmes not only provide safe spaces for play and healing but also promote gender equality and inclusion by ensuring access for girls and youth with disabilities. Coaches trained in child protection and psychosocial support ensure that sports activities go beyond physical development—they help young refugees process trauma, build friendships, and envision a brighter future.

Advocacy on and off the Pitch

Beyond the settlements, FC Barcelona has also made a symbolic yet powerful gesture of solidarity by featuring the UNHCR logo on the back of its men’s and women’s first team jerseys. This global visibility helps raise awareness among millions of football fans and inspires the wider sports community to engage in humanitarian support.

With football as its bridge, the Barça Foundation continues to bring hope and opportunity to those who need it most—showcasing how clubs, athletes, and fans can become agents of change in the global refugee response.

As Uganda continues to open its doors to displaced communities, support from global partnerships like this one is more vital than ever. Together, they are proving that sport is more than just a game—it’s a life-changing force.