KAPCHORWA, Uganda – “As a female coach, the girls trust me,” said Zuena Cheptoek, an athletics coach in the town of Kapchorwa, in eastern Uganda. “They tell me things they can’t tell anyone else – about pressure to undergo female genital mutilation, about being told to quit school, about relationships that make them feel unsafe.”
Female genital mutilation is a serious human rights violation and a public health concern in certain parts of Uganda, particularly rural and remote regions. Ms. Cheptoek works with girls from Sebei communities, who face deep-rooted and biased gender norms that lead to higher rates of female genital mutilation and child marriage.
“This mindset undervalues their social, intellectual and cultural potential. Sport helps us challenge that.”
Female genital mutilation is often a precursor to child marriage and school discontinuation – and all of these are closely linked to poverty. Poor girls are more likely to experience these harms, which then perpetuate the cycle of impoverishment. Yet for many girls, resisting comes at a high personal cost, with accusations that they have turned their backs on tradition, leading to estrangement from their communities and even violence and abuse.
Yet change is taking shape in school compounds, and through the quiet determination of women redefining what is possible.
A trusted coach and a safe space
From community runs to classrooms
Ms. Cheptoek works with the Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation through the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to eliminate female genital mutilation, using sport as an entry point for social change, working with children, adolescents and young people – especially girls, who are often excluded from opportunities in Sebei communities.
Each year a Christmas run brings together boys and girls from across Sebei – but the event is about more than athletics. Prior to the race itself, the Foundation holds discussions with members of local communities – parents, cultural leaders, schools and local stakeholders – using drama and peer engagement to open discussions around female genital mutilation and child marriage.
“Without sport and education, many of them would already be married or out of school” – Zuena Cheptoek
From these runs, 12 girls are selected for educational sponsorships that enable them to enroll in junior school. A partnership has also been launched with local secondary schools, where many of the under-16 students participated in earlier Christmas runs.
“Most of these girls come from communities where female genital mutilation is still practised,” said Ms. Cheptoek. “Without sport and education, many of them would already be married or out of school.”
Yet watching girls succeed in athletics and education has begun to shift attitudes. “Some parents now see that athletics can transform not just an individual girl, but the whole community,” added Ms. Cheptoek. “When these girls run, they are running away from harmful practices and towards a future they choose for themselves.”
Sexual and reproductive rights, safety and psychosocial support
But sport is only one part of their journey: The training camp also functions as a safe space where girls can learn, ask questions and build confidence away from social pressure and norms.
As a coach, Ms. Cheptoek also provides age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health advice as well as guidance on personal safety and psychosocial support. She helps girls navigate the challenges that come with visibility and success, particularly in a society where female independence is still contested.
“No woman should be punished for pursuing her potential” – Zuena Cheptoek
“Girls who become successful athletes are often told, ‘You should stop running and get married,’” she explained. “But financial independence and education give them choices.”
The coach is especially vigilant about gender-based violence, openly discussing healthy relationships, consent and warning signs of abuse. These conversations were made painfully urgent by recent tragedies such as the murder of Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan long-distance runner who was fatally attacked by her former partner in 2024, following a dispute over land.
“We talk about safety because we don’t want to lose any more women,” said Ms. Cheptoek. “Female athletes are becoming more vulnerable because they challenge traditional gender roles – but no woman should be punished for pursuing her potential.
“Rebecca’s death reminded us that success can also expose women to danger,” she continued. “Female athletes are becoming more independent financially and socially and that can trigger violence in a society that still believes a woman should stay in the kitchen, cooking and taking care of children.”
UNFPA’s role in supporting change
As early prevention and psychosocial support are essential to combatting gender-based violence, Ms. Cheptoek opens conversations about power, control and warning signs of abuse, ensuring that athletes understand their rights and where to access support.
“Sport should give girls freedom, not put their lives at risk.”
Sporting events and engagements can also open dialogues on the importance of ending female genital mutilation, promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, and reinforcing gender equality. UNFPA works in partnership with national and community-based partners in Uganda to mobilize communities through sport, where hundreds of young people, parents and local leaders can be reached in inclusive and non-threatening spaces.
