Makerere University Aims to Reignite Blind Sports Dominance at National Gala

Makerere University is setting its sights on reclaiming its former glory in blind sports as they head to the National Disability Sports Gala in Soroti. The university’s goalball and showdown teams recently demonstrated strong form at the Federation of East Africa University Sports (FEAUS) Blind Sport Circuit, where they secured multiple titles against international competition.

At the recent circuit held at Makerere, both the men’s and women’s goalball teams defeated United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) from Kenya. The men’s team, led by Dan Nuwamanya, secured decisive victories, while the women’s team achieved a commanding win. In showdown, Makerere’s men also clinched the title, though the women’s team narrowly lost to USIU-A.

Despite the departure of key players from their historic 2023 East African championship-winning squad, coach James Ssenkungu is focused on building a new generation of dominant athletes. “We must rebuild and keep winning so that the first victory was not a one-off,” Ssenkungu stated. He expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the Soroti gala, highlighting the circuit as a crucial warm-up and assessment for newcomers.

Ssenkungu, a sports tutor and a Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) alumnus, sees the empowerment of girls with disabilities through sports as vital and aligned with global development goals. The university will rely on promising athletes like Noor Nantamu, Daphine Nakabanda, Justin Atuhaire, and Shalom Namutebi, alongside the men’s team, to secure victories against rivals such as Gulu University and defending champions Mubs.

The GSMP initiative, launched in 2012, aims to connect international sports leaders and empower marginalized groups through sport. Ssenkungu’s involvement reflects a commitment to fostering talent that can represent Uganda on national and international stages, including the Paralympics.

This article is based on information from the Daily Monitor.