Ugandan Girls Run Toward Freedom, Away From FGM

In the Sebei subregion of eastern Uganda, coach Zuena Cheptoek stands on a red running track doing something more powerful than training athletes. She's saving lives.

For girls in this rural community, sport has become an unexpected shield against female genital mutilation, child marriage, and school dropout. Ms. Cheptoek works with the Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation, partnering with UNFPA and UNICEF to reach young women through athletics.

"As a female coach, the girls trust me," she said. "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."

In these communities, deep-rooted gender norms often tie FGM to child marriage and leaving school early. But on school grounds and running tracks, change is taking hold.

Each year, a Christmas run brings together boys and girls from across Sebei. From these runs, 12 girls receive educational sponsorships for junior school—scholarships that can mean the difference between freedom and forced marriage.

"Without sport and education, many of them would already be married or out of school," Ms. Cheptoek explained. For girls who refuse FGM, the personal cost can be high: pressure, ostracism, even violence for rejecting tradition.

Ms. Cheptoek offers more than athletic coaching. She provides age-appropriate advice on sexual and reproductive health, personal safety, and psychosocial support—helping girls navigate the pressures that come with visibility in communities where female independence remains contested.

"Girls who become successful athletes are often told, 'You should stop running and get married,'" she said. But financial independence and education give them choices they never had before.

These conversations became more urgent after Ugandan runner Rebecca Cheptegei was killed in 2024 by her former partner following a land dispute. "We don't want to lose any more women," Ms. Cheptoek said.

The Ripple Effect

As girls begin thriving in athletics and classrooms, attitudes are slowly shifting across entire communities. Parents who once insisted on traditional practices now see athletics transforming not just individual girls, but whole families.

"When these girls run, they are running away from harmful practices and towards a future they choose for themselves," Ms. Cheptoek said. Financial success from athletics proves to skeptical parents that daughters have value beyond marriage and domestic work.

Through these efforts, hundreds of young people, parents, and local leaders in Uganda are receiving messages about ending FGM, promoting reproductive health rights, and advancing gender equality. The program supports survivor-centered, community-driven approaches that help girls access accurate health information and make informed choices about their bodies.

For Ms. Cheptoek, the mission is crystal clear: "Sport should give girls freedom, not put their lives at risk." One running track at a time, that's exactly what's happening.