Sport, entertainment, and community impact took center stage on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as U.S. Exchange Alumni Uganda (USEA), in partnership with Corporate Games, the Rotaract Corporate League, and Gazaland UOX, brought together corporate professionals, exchange program alumni, and community members for “Games for Charity” at City High School in Kololo.
The day-long event brought together competitive sports, traditional games, entertainment, and networking, with the goal of promoting workplace wellness while raising funds for healthcare initiatives in the community.
Participants competed in a wide range of activities, including 5-a-side football, relay races, tug-of-war, and cycling challenges. The programme also featured traditional games such as kwepena (dodgeball), sack races, three-legged races, and human wheelbarrow races.
For those looking for something beyond sports, the event included karaoke battles, musical chairs, and a wife-carrying competition, creating an atmosphere that encouraged colleagues and participants to interact outside the workplace.
Ian Rumanyika, Chairman of Corporate Games and a partner in the Games for Charity initiative, said the event was designed to address the growing importance of employee wellness and mental health in professional environments.
“Investing in wellness for employees is no longer optional; it is a must for every company. Research shows we lose over 12 billion hours globally to anxiety, stress, and depression.”
Rumanyika said the event provided an opportunity for professionals to step away from the pressures of their daily routines and reconnect with colleagues in a more relaxed environment.
“With the heavy pressure of workplace demands, we created a platform where people can run away from Excel sheets, reports, and boardroom stress to break the ice, rebuild camaraderie, and laugh with colleagues.”
The event also brought together members of several U.S. exchange alumni networks, including the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI), and the Fulbright Program.
Immaculate Blessing, President of USEA, said the event demonstrated how recreational activities can be used to promote both personal wellbeing and community service.
“The U.S. Exchange Alumni Network unites over 6,000 Ugandans who have completed U.S. government-sponsored fellowships, with a shared mandate to implement best practices locally.”
Blessing said the Games for Charity event was also an important part of the network’s efforts to raise resources for its upcoming healthcare outreach.
“Play triggers the mind positively and relieves daily pressures. This edition of Games for Charity served as our primary fundraiser for an upcoming Mega Medical Camp scheduled for December 12th in Bwaise.”
The medical camp is expected to provide free healthcare services to more than 2,000 vulnerable people, including expectant mothers and children.
Beyond the competition, Games for Charity highlighted the potential of sport and recreation to bring professionals together, strengthen workplace relationships, promote mental wellness, and support community initiatives.
The organisers said the initiative reflects a broader effort to use professional networks and partnerships not only for business and social connection, but also to create tangible impact in communities.
