Ugandan para-athletes are gearing up for a strong showing at the upcoming Paris Summer 2024 Paralympic Games which will take place from August 28th to September 8th, 2024, according to Irene Nabisenke, a National Paralympic Committee (NPC) administrator and trained para coach, who spoke exclusively to NBS Sport.
Nabisenke highlighted the remarkable progress in Paralympic participation. “Just a few years ago, we could only send one or two athletes, and those were often on wild cards,” she said. Now, the focus is on qualification through merit. This improvement is evident in the number of athletes who qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics (4) and the NPC’s goal of sending eight athletes, including a team sport, to Paris represents a further step forward.
The qualification process is already underway. One para-swimmer, Husna Kukundakwe has secured their spot, while para-badminton players await ranking confirmation in mid-May. Para-powerlifters that include Dennis Mbazira, Safalu Tamale and Muhammed Nigo are currently competing at a crucial qualifier, the Pattaya World Cup in Thailand (May 8th-11th). Nabisenke expressed optimism about their chances of earning enough points to qualify for Paris.
While the outlook is positive, Nabisenke acknowledges the challenges. Funding is a concern, but she believes the bigger hurdle is the lack of public awareness about para-sports. “More awareness would attract more sponsors,” she explained. Additionally, government support, while valuable, doesn’t fully cover the needs of the NPC’s multiple para-sport disciplines. The shortage of qualified coaches and classifiers further hinders international participation for para-athletes.
Despite these obstacles, the Ugandan Paralympic team is determined to succeed. With increased athlete participation and a focus on qualifying in high-performance categories like athletics, Uganda is poised for a significant presence at the Paris Summer Paralympic Games.
