Meet Jimmy Mulisa, a former Rwanda National Team striker who now leads the Umuri Foundation, a Kigali-based charity using football and education to steer youth away from harmful influences and equip them with skills to shape their futures and strengthen their communities.
Who They Are
Based in Rwanda’s capital city, the Umuri Foundation was established in 2018 by former national team player Jimmy Mulisa, following a successful football career that spanned clubs in Rwanda, Europe, and Asia. The Foundation taps into the power of sports and education to steer young people away from harmful influences and help them build the skills and confidence to shape a better future.
“After retiring from professional football, I returned home from Europe and was deeply moved to see so many young people still facing challenges beyond their control, challenges that I also faced. That moment led me to establish the Umuri Foundation, driven by a belief in football’s unique power to transform lives and create positive social change.”
Jimmy, who grew up as a refugee in the 1990s during a period of intense political instability in Rwanda, says his love for football runs deep, not just for the sport itself, but because of the transformation it brought to his life and family.
“Football has always been more than just a sport for me…it was my safe space growing up. It was a source of hope, and the only path I believed could help uplift my single mother and family from poverty. Football changed my life, and I started Umuri Foundation to leverage the unique potential of football to create positive change,” Jimmy explains, adding that “umuri” means light in his local language.
The Umuri Academy, the Foundation’s flagship program, provides school scholarships and football training that help young people thrive both in and out of the classroom. Complemented by leadership training, sexual and reproductive health education, and community outreach initiatives, the Foundation empowers youth to succeed and communities to thrive.
“Our programs are designed to protect youth from negative influences, while empowering them with the life skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to break the cycle of poverty and thrive in their communities. Through our efforts, we strive to shape a brighter future for young people across Rwanda.”
Jimmy notes that sport is a strong draw for youth in Rwanda, a country with a vibrant football culture and high-profile government partnerships with global clubs like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. By engaging youth through football, Umuri promotes broader goals around gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, economic empowerment, and climate action.
Since launching in 2018, Umuri Foundation has engaged over 15,000 children and youth through sports events across Rwanda, supported 500 street children through reintegration programs in Kigali, and provided 800 free HIV tests. Several of the Academy’s top trainees have also secured opportunities for international training.
Where They are Heading
With Rwanda’s youth population growing, Jimmy remains committed to nurturing young talent and expanding opportunities for the next generation.
“I am deeply passionate about nurturing young talent and empowering communities through sport. My goal is to use my experience and leadership to inspire the next generation of student-athletes…helping them build skill, confidence, character, and a brighter future.” Looking ahead, Jimmy also hopes the Foundation’s outreach and leadership programs will inspire more youth to become agents of change in their communities.
“Development has to start from within, because we understand each other. We know the pain, we know the challenges. Grassroots organizations shine because they truly know the situation on the ground. We know our problems. If we continue working hard, instead of complaining, we can find the solutions ourselves.”
To learn more, visit their website.