A sports kit drive championed by Sunshine Coast Lightning's Peace Proscovia to send back home to Uganda is one step away from becoming a reality.

The High Performance Sport office at the University of the Sunshine Coast is overflowing with more than 500kg of sports apparel that is destined for budding athletes in the central African country.

All of it has been donated to help the people of Uganda to realise their sporting potential and follow their dreams, just like Proscovia has done.

Since the collection started in May, half a tonne of shoes, shorts, tops, water bottles and back packs have been donated to be shipped to Uganda and distributed to children, teenagers and adults to support their participation and achievement in sport.

Lightning goal shooter Proscovia, who is the driving force behind the collection, said she was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Sunshine Coast.

"In my childhood I played on gravel and it was very painful, and I have many scars and cracks," Peace said.

"The sporting equipment can change lives.

“The people in Uganda can’t afford even basic sports clothes and this will help them play sport and will lead to a better life.”

 But to get the gear to Uganda she needs help in raising money to transport the kit.

 The shipment will be sent at the end of October and Proscovia has arranged for it to be collected and distributed to sporting organisations, schools and communities by Uganda’s National Council of Sports.

USC is currently looking for a sponsor to cover the transportation costs from the Sunshine Coast to Kampala. This is estimated to be $6,000.

Proscovia is currently studying a Graduate Certificate of Business Research at USC and is a part of the university’s High Performance Student Athlete program, which has supported her in running the collection.

Program Coordinator Tania Stevenson said she was surprised at how the community initiative has taken off.

 “We didn’t really know what to expect when we launched the first collection day and the way it has evolved is amazing,” she said.

 “Groups and individuals have been knocking down our door wanting to contribute, and some very innovative leadership initiatives have started up in schools and sporting clubs to collect an array of sports gear to benefit Ugandan youth.

 “It is very encouraging to see this dimension of high performance sport so valued in our community.

 As well as staff and students from USC, sports gear has come flooding in from Siena Secondary College, Pomona Primary School, Stella Maris Primary School, Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Coolum Surf lifesaving Club, Mooloolah Soccer Club, Mooloolaba nippers Sunshine Coast Netball Association.

For further information about helping to get these sports products to Uganda, please contact the High Performance Student Athlete Program Coordinator, Tania Stevenson on hpsport@usc.edu.au