Blind Football Uganda targets 2028 paralympic qualification

Blind Football Uganda chairman Jagwe Muzafaru says the country's biggest target is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games through this year's IBSA Blind Football African Championship Division I in Egypt.

The tournament, due from November 1-10, will give Uganda a chance to move closer to its Paralympic dream after the national team earned promotion to Division I last year.

"Our long-term goal is to build a competitive national team capable of representing Uganda successfully at regional, continental and international tournaments, with qualification for the Paralympic Games as our biggest ambition," Muzafaru said.

Blind Football Uganda has grown steadily since the sport was officially introduced in June 2021 after Muzafaru watched blind football at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games on YouTube.

"I watched a blind football match at the Rio Paralympics and asked myself whether Ugandans could also play the sport. That single video inspired me to introduce blind football in Uganda," he said.

The journey was not easy. Muzafaru said many organisations rejected his requests for support before the International Blind Football Foundation donated 10 balls and 20 eye shades that enabled the sport to start with students at Makerere and Kyambogo universities.

Today, Uganda has 13 men's teams, including a refugee team from Nakivale settlement in Isingiro District. Eight teams are currently active, with more than 100 registered players.

Blind football has also spread beyond Kampala to Mukono, Buikwe, Jinja, Kamuli, Kabale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu and Nakivale Refugee Settlement.

The game has become more than a sporting activity. Muzafaru said it is helping visually impaired people become more confident, independent and socially active.

"Blind football improves fitness, balance, communication, teamwork and leadership. It also gives visually impaired people confidence and shows society that disability is not inability," he said.

Uganda's biggest achievement came last year after hosting the 2025 IBSA Blind Football African Championship Division II at Hamz Stadium.

The national team finished second to earn promotion to Division I and secured Uganda's first-ever world ranking of 37th.

Blind Football Uganda also holds official membership of the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) and has organised annual national championships since 2022.

Schools have also played a key role in developing talent, with Hornby High School, St Francis Madira, St Mary's Gorretti Ngeta, Namasagali College, Gulu High School, CEVIC School for the Blind, Spire Road School and Salama School for the Blind all taking part.

Despite the progress, Muzafaru admitted funding remains the biggest obstacle.

"We still struggle to buy specialised equipment because most of it is manufactured in Europe. Shipping costs are high, so we sometimes improvise eye shades using local materials and rely on donated used balls," he said.

He added that Blind Football Uganda also faces shortages of trained coaches, referees, guides and regular competitions.

The organisation now hopes to expand to more districts by working with schools, disability organisations and local sports associations while training more coaches and referees.

Muzafaru said the long-term vision also includes establishing a national league, building a permanent training centre and securing sustainable funding through partnerships with government, the Uganda Paralympic Committee, FUFA and corporate sponsors.

Blind Football Uganda will host its fifth National Championship at Makerere University Rugby Grounds on September 5 before the national team travels to Egypt for the continental qualifiers in November.