The fourth edition of the Inter-Camps Tournament concluded in Mahama Refugee Camp with a vibrant celebration of sport, talent and community cohesion, bringing together young athletes from refugee camps and urban refugee communities across Rwanda.

Held from 24 to 30 August 2026, the tournament was organised by the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) in collaboration with UNHCR and other partners, under the theme “My Talent, a Pathway to Self-Reliance.”

The week-long competition brought together 725 athletes in 46 teams, representing refugee communities from Mahama, Nyabiheke, Mugombwa, Kiziba, Kigeme, Nkamira Transit Centre, Gashora Emergency Transit Centre and urban refugee communities. Participants competed in six disciplines: football, basketball, volleyball, sitting volleyball, karate and taekwondo, providing young people with an opportunity to showcase their abilities, build friendships and strengthen connections across communities.

Beyond competition, the tournament served as a platform for identifying and promoting sporting talent among refugees, with the potential to open pathways to professional sports and greater socio-economic independence.

Speaking during the finals, MINEMA Permanent Secretary Aristarque NGOGA highlighted the importance of using sport to identify promising athletes while strengthening social cohesion among refugee communities.

“Once these talents are identified, we have an opportunity to promote them so that they can develop their abilities professionally and secure opportunities that can contribute to their socio-economic self-reliance,” he said.

MINEMA continues to encourage sports federations, clubs and other stakeholders to recognise and support talented refugee athletes, who have demonstrated strong potential across different sporting disciplines.

The tournament culminated in an exciting finals day in Mahama on 30 August, attracting more than 30,000 refugees, members of neighbouring communities and humanitarian actors. The large turnout transformed the finals into a major community celebration, with supporters singing, cheering and celebrating alongside the athletes. The event provided an opportunity for people from different refugee communities to interact, build friendships and share experiences.

The tournament also promoted inclusion, with women and men participating across the different disciplines and persons with disabilities taking part, particularly through sitting volleyball.

The final results reflected strong competition across the participating camps. Mahama emerged as the overall standout, winning three championship titles in men’s football, women’s basketball and sitting volleyball. Mugombwa secured both men’s and women’s volleyball titles, while Nyabiheke won the men’s basketball championship.

In taekwondo, Kiziba delivered an impressive performance, collecting 17 medals; eight gold, six silver and three bronze. Mahama also performed strongly, winning 13 medals in the discipline. In the football final, host camp Mahama defeated Nyabiheke in a closely contested match, with an early goal securing the championship.

Beyond the sporting programme, the tournament provided an important platform for youth engagement and awareness. Participants and spectators received messages encouraging young people to stay away from drugs and illicit alcoholic beverages, prevent HIV and unplanned pregnancies, and make responsible choices for their future.

Held during the school holidays, the tournament also provided young people with a safe and constructive environment to spend their time, develop their talents and connect with peers from other refugee communities.

The 2026 Inter-Camps Tournament demonstrated that sport can contribute to much more than physical wellbeing and recreation. It can build confidence, discipline, teamwork and leadership, while creating opportunities for young people to discover and develop their potential.

For Rwanda’s refugee communities, the tournament contributes to broader efforts to promote self-reliance, inclusion and social cohesion. As the fourth edition came to a close, champions left Mahama with trophies, medals and prizes, but the broader achievement went beyond the podium: young people from different refugee communities came together to compete, connect and showcase talents that could become stepping stones towards a more self-reliant future.