New initiatives aim to enhance grassroots sports development in Rwanda's schools.
The Rwandan government has officially launched the 2025/26 Inter-School Sports Competitions, marking a renewed commitment from the Ministries of Sports and Education to promote grassroots sports development starting from schools. The opening ceremony took place at Lycée de Kigali on Monday, October 20, and signaled the commencement of competitions nationwide.
A total of 17 disciplines will be contested at the school level, progressing through district and provincial stages, with the best-performing teams set to represent Rwanda at the East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games. Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire and Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana emphasized the importance of nurturing young talents from an early age.
“This is not the first time inter-school sports competitions are happening, but this marks a new chapter where we’re committed to ensuring that young talents are nurtured right from the lower levels, starting in schools,” said Mukazayire during the launch.
Historically, schools have been a significant source of talent, producing numerous athletes who have achieved legendary status in various sports disciplines. However, in recent years, inter-school competitions have struggled to generate new players for local leagues, primarily due to a lack of competitiveness.
To address these challenges, Minister Nsengimana announced plans to recruit more physical education teachers, aiming to strengthen competitiveness and enhance athlete development. “We will make the best use of every available facility, while also ensuring that trained professionals take charge of physical education. It’s time to make that one hour on the timetable count,” he stated.
This year’s competitions will feature new disciplines such as swimming, karate, judo, taekwondo, city ball, table tennis, beach volleyball, and sitting volleyball, alongside traditional sports like football, volleyball, handball, athletics, netball, rugby, and 3×3 basketball. According to Luke Karemangingo, President of the Rwanda Schools Sports Federation, these new sports will complement existing ones and provide a broader platform for student athletes.
“Previously, only a few sports were practiced in schools due to limited financial means. This partnership between the two ministries will ensure proper support and sustainability for school sports,” Karemangingo noted.
The launch event was attended by several Rwandan football legends, including Haruna Niyonzima, Eugene Murangwa, Ernest Sugira, and Hubert Nshizirungu, who served as role models for the young athletes. Niyonzima expressed his admiration for the initiative, stating, “Many of us started our journeys through school sports, and we’re ready to give back by sharing our experiences.”
Among the inspired students was 14-year-old Liliane Igirimbabazi, who aspires to become a professional footballer. “This is a great opportunity for us. Seeing the Minister of Sports in person was inspiring. It motivates us to work harder and aim higher,” she shared.
This new partnership is also expected to contribute to scouting under-17 athletes to represent Rwanda at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, aligning with ongoing National Talent Week initiatives under the AFD Isonga Project.
Key Points
- Launch of the 2025/26 Inter-School Sports Competitions in Rwanda.
- 17 sports disciplines to be contested, with teams progressing to FEASSSA Games.
- Government aims to enhance grassroots sports development through schools.
- Recruitment of more physical education teachers planned to boost competitiveness.
- New sports disciplines introduced alongside traditional ones.
- Partnership between ministries to ensure sustainability and support for school sports.
Sources: Government looks to revive talent growth as inter-school games kick off
