Soroti, Uganda – In a spirited response to recent critiques, supporters and community stakeholders have rallied behind Capt. Mike Mukula’s newly launched Arrow Boys Football Club and Arrow Football Academy, affirming the initiative as a genuine, transformative effort to tackle youth poverty and unemployment in Teso, not a politically motivated retreat.
Launched amid great enthusiasm at the Oligoi Stadium grounds, the project has been hailed by local youth, coaches, and development advocates as a long-awaited investment in the region’s most valuable resource: its young people.
“To reduce this initiative to mere politics is to undermine the real needs of our youth,” said Ms. Grace Alimo, a community leader and education advocate in Soroti. “What we see here is a concrete plan to create opportunities, build skills, and inspire a generation. The timing is not about politics, it’s about urgency.”
A Direct Response to Socio-Economic Challenges
Mukula, a former Minister and longstanding figure in regional development, has framed the Arrow Boys project as part of a broader sports-driven economic strategy. With Teso facing high youth unemployment and limited avenues for advancement, the academy aims to scout, train, and export local talent to national and international leagues.
“Sports is one of the most powerful tools for social and economic mobility,” Mukula stated at the launch. “If we can nurture ten young talents to reach clubs like Arsenal or Barcelona, we will not only change their lives, we will uplift entire communities.”
The academy, already branded “The Ninjas,” has enrolled dozens of young players from across Teso, with plans to upgrade Oligoi Stadium into a modern sports facility. Additionally, Mukula has proposed reviving unused city spaces, like the former Lions Children’s Playgrounds, for youth sports development.
Beyond Football: A Multi-Sector Development Vision
Critics have questioned Mukula’s sudden focus on grassroots sports, but project outlines reveal a comprehensive vision extending beyond the pitch. The initiative includes plans for basketball leagues, motor rally championships, and sports tourism—all designed to stimulate local business, hospitality, and agriculture.
“Sports tourism will bring visitors to Teso,” Mukula explained. “They will stay in our hotels, eat our food, visit Lake Kyoga, and buy our crafts and produce. This is how we grow the economy from the ground up.”
Rebuttal to Political Speculation
While some have speculated that the club is a vehicle for political revival, supporters emphasize that Mukula’s history of youth investment predates recent political shifts. They point to his earlier work, including the Youth Center in Addis Ababa, the Pioneer sports academy, and the Apuseru Youth Centre.
“Captain Mukula has always believed in youth empowerment,” said Robert Emong, a former beneficiary of Mukula’s scholarship programs. “This football academy is a continuation of that belief, not a sudden change of heart.”
Regarding allegations that the project is a proxy for his son’s political ambitions, project coordinators firmly deny any linkage. “Arrow Boys FC is registered as a community sports organization. Its board includes coaches, educators, and business leaders, not politicians,” said academy director Brian Opio. “Our mission is purely developmental.”
A Call for Collective Support
Rather than politicize the initiative, community elders and youth representatives are calling for unified backing to ensure its sustainability. “Before we criticize any effort to uplift our youth, let us first support it,” said James Okiror, a local coach. “If this project fails, it is not Mukula who loses—it is the children of Teso.”
The club’s official colors—green and yellow—symbolize the natural wealth of Teso and the dawning of new opportunities. As the first cohort of “Ninjas” begins training, the mood on the ground is one of hope an
