A boy in a CFD shirt holding a Ugandan flag on match day

About us

A cricket ground in Kammengo, and the children who came to the gate

Our storyCeylon Lions CCMission and valuesOur teamGovernance

Our story

From a new ground to a foundation

Serenity Oval opened in March 2022, the first ground in Uganda owned by a club. Within weeks around 50 local children were training in a junior programme.

On 9 October 2022, Uganda's Independence Day, Cricket for Development was formally launched during the Marylebone Cricket Club's first-ever tour of Uganda. Sri Lanka's High Commissioner, H.E. Kana V. Kananathan, and MCC captain George Thurstance opened the Foundation and its first classroom and IT centre, with around 100 children joining the day.

Today CFD works with 150–200 young people aged 8–15 around Kammengo, and with their families. Cricket opens the door; education changes the trajectory.

A CFD player and a Ceylon Lions player cut the ribbon on the classroom as MCC players applaud
Opening the classroom and IT centre on launch day, 9 October 2022.
  1. 2018

    Ceylon Lions takes over Charity Cricket Club

    When the charity UCTF closes, it asks Ruwan Jayaratne to look after the players it sponsored through their education. Ceylon Lions, now our sister club, takes them on.

  2. March 2022

    Serenity Oval opens

    Uganda National League cricket comes to Kammengo, and a junior programme starts.

  3. June 2022

    International teams arrive

    Bermuda, Jersey and Kenya prepare at the Oval for the ICC CWC Challenge League B in Kampala.

  4. 9 October 2022

    CFD launched with the MCC

    Two T20 matches, the first classroom and IT centre, and about 100 children on the day.

Our sister club

Ceylon Lions Cricket Club

Cricket for Development is the sister organisation of Ceylon Lions Cricket Club.

The story starts in 2018. When the charity UCTF closed down, it asked Ruwan Jayaratne to take over its Charity Cricket Club and look after the players it was already sponsoring through their education. Ceylon Lions took over the club and carried on supporting those players.

Since then the club has helped many more students through school and university, and developed players for Uganda's national team. CFD carries that work to the next generation in Kammengo.

The Ceylon Lions CC squad seated in front of the scoreboard at Serenity Oval
Ceylon Lions CC at Serenity Oval.
Ruwan Jayaratne presents a Ceylon Lions cap to a player
Ruwan Jayaratne presents a Ceylon Lions cap.

Our mission

We use sport, starting with cricket, to keep young people in Kammengo and Mpigi District in school, with a special focus on girls, and give them the IT skills, education and support to build better futures.

Our vision

Young people in Kammengo and beyond who are healthy, educated, confident, and leading change in their communities.

Our values

Every child countsGirls firstLearning comes with playingRooted in KammengoOpen books

How change happens

Step 1

Cricket

Draws young people in and keeps them coming back.

Step 2

Learning and life skills

English, IT and life skills are part of the programme.

Step 3

Confident, educated young people

Children stay in school and grow as leaders.

Step 4

Stronger families and community

Crop incomes and local support keep the gains going.

Our team

The people at the Oval

Ruwan Jayaratne in Ceylon Lions kit at Serenity Oval
Founder and Chair

Ruwan Jayaratne

Ruwan Jayaratne is an engineer and entrepreneur who has spent around 15 years building civil engineering and infrastructure businesses in East Africa.

His work in Ugandan cricket began in 2018. When the charity UCTF closed, it asked him to take over its Charity Cricket Club and look after the players it was sponsoring through their education. Ceylon Lions CC, the club he leads, took them on. Since then the Lions have won Division Two of the national league (2019), risen to Division One, helped many students through school and university, and developed players for Uganda's national team.

In 2022 he opened Serenity Oval in Kammengo, the first cricket ground in Uganda owned by a club, and launched Cricket for Development there during the MCC's first tour of Uganda. He still captains the Lions, is a director of Serenity Group, and has coordinated two Uganda national team tours to Sri Lanka.

Ety Brian Hooks

Foundation Manager

Runs the programme day to day and curates Serenity Oval.

Birungi Milly

Communications support

Sports Tourism Apprentice with Wild Cricket Safaris, supporting CFD's social media and impact reporting.

Governance and accountability

Open books

How we are run, funded and held to account.

How we are funded

  • A share of Serenity Oval ground hire, plus grants and individual donors.
  • Our founder also owns the related businesses. A conflict-of-interest policy governs every dealing between them.

Financial controls

  • Two signatories on every foundation account. No one signs alone.
  • Director approval above a set spending limit.
  • An independent annual review of the accounts.

Safeguarding

  • A child safeguarding policy covering staff, coaches, volunteers and visitors.
  • Every child pictured on this site has parental consent.

Documents available on request: annual report, accounts, safeguarding policy, registration certificate.