Amputee footballers champion road safety in charity match

Uganda Amputee Football Club, made up of young players who lost their legs or hands due to road accident carnage, participated in a charity safety awareness football match with Katalemwa Cheshire staff.

The charity awareness match was held on Sunday at Wampewo playgrounds in Gayaza.

The charity match was part of a road safety awareness campaign that was carried out and supported by the Federation of Uganda Amputee Football Association (FUAFA) in the community.

Lawrence Kitimbo, President of the Federation of Uganda Amputee Football Association (FUAFA), said that their participation in the charity match enables the community to be aware of observing safety, especially on the road.

"As an association, we bring different football teams of amputees and able-bodied players to compete at least on a monthly basis. We use that moment to talk to the community about road safety and keeping safety in the community," he said. Kitimbo said that during such grassroots competition events, young players with disabilities are easily spotted for chances of joining international teams.

Juma Bakalamuli, at the tender age of 12, had his leg amputated after a grisly road accident in western Uganda. "I was 12 years old in primary school and my hopes of playing football vanished completely after that nasty road incident in 2011. I used to admire professional footballers like Ronaldo," he said.

Bakalamuli said that his participation in the match is another way of showing his talents and skills to the community, despite being an amputee. Now FUAFA focuses on expanding the club's structures, grassroots rehabilitation and increasing international visibility for local amputee players.