**Addition in response to the OP's clarifications of the question:** For simplicity, let $T=1$. Suppose first that the $u_{ij}$'s are nonrandom numbers. Then \begin{equation} Er^2=\sum_{i,j,k,\ell} u_{ij}u_{k,\ell}Ev_iv_jv_kv_\ell=\sum_i u_{ii}^2\mu_4 +2\sum_{i\ne \ell} u_{ii}(u_{i\ell}+u_{\ell i})\mu_3\mu_1 \end{equation} \begin{equation} +\sum_{i\ne k} (u_{ii}u_{kk}+u_{ik}^2+u_{ik}u_{ki})\mu_2^2 +\sum_{i\ne j\ne k\ne \ell}u_{ij}u_{k\ell}\mu_1^4, \end{equation} where $\sum_{i\ne j\ne k\ne \ell}$ denotes the sum over all quadruples $(i,j,k,\ell)$ of pairwise distinct $i,j,k,\ell$. Suppose now further that the $u_{ij}$'s are in $[-1,1]\setminus(-1+1/n,1-1/n)$ for all $i,j$ and such that \begin{equation} \sum_i u_{ii}=0,\quad u_{ij}+u_{ji}=0 \text{ if $j\ne i$, }\tag{*} \end{equation} so that \begin{equation} \sum_{i\ne j} u_{ij}=0\quad\text{and hence}\quad \sum_{i,j} u_{ij}=0. \end{equation} E.g., if $n=2m$ is even, we can take $u_{ii}=1$ for $i\le m$, $u_{ii}=-1$ for $i>m$, $u_{ij}=1$ if $i<j$, $u_{ij}=-1$ if $i>j$. Let us consider this case in detail. We have \begin{equation} Er=\sum_{i,j} u_{ij}Ev_iv_j=\sum_i u_{ii}\mu_2+\sum_{i\ne j} u_{ij}\mu_1^2=0+0=0, \end{equation} where $\mu_p:=Ev_1^p$. So, \begin{equation} Var(r)=Er^2=n\mu_4+\sum_{i\ne k} u_{ii}u_{kk}\mu_2^2 +\sum_{i\ne j\ne k\ne \ell}u_{ij}u_{k\ell}\mu_1^4. \end{equation} Next, $\sum_{i\ne k} u_{ii}u_{kk}=\sum_{i,k} u_{ii}u_{kk}-\sum_i u_{ii}^2 =(\sum_i u_{ii})^2-\sum_i u_{ii}^2=0-n=-n$. So, \begin{equation} [Var(r)=]Er^2=n(\mu_4-\mu_2^2) +\sum_{i\ne j\ne k\ne \ell}u_{ij}u_{k\ell}\mu_1^4. \end{equation} Repeating this reasoning with $1$ in place of $v_i$, we get \begin{equation} 0=\Big(\sum_{i,j} u_{ij}\Big)^2=n(1^4-(1^2)^2) +\sum_{i\ne j\ne k\ne \ell}u_{ij}u_{k\ell}1^4, \end{equation} whence $\sum_{i\ne j\ne k\ne \ell}u_{ij}u_{k\ell}=0$ and \begin{equation} Var(r)=Er^2=n(\mu_4-\mu_2^2)=n\,Var(v_1^2)=\tfrac{n}{180} (2 b+1) (8 b+11) \left(b^2-1\right). \end{equation} This is smaller than $n^4b^4T^{2}=n^4b^4$ by a factor of $\asymp n^3$, not just $\asymp n^2$. The case of $n$ odd should be very similar. Now of course you can take any random $u_{ij}$ (independent of the $v_i$'s) such that $(*)$ holds almost surely or with high enough probability. Is this "packing"/"forcing" condition broad enough?