Introduction
The Confederation of East and Central Africa Amputee Football (CECAAF) Tournament 2025 was held from 8th to 14th September 2025 in Bujumbura, Burundi. Uganda, represented by FUAFA-Uganda with support from the Uganda Paralympic Committee, sent a delegation of 12 players and 1 official to join five other teams, including Burundi (host), Kenya, Tanzania, and DR Congo.
The tournament was structured in two groups:
- Group A: Burundi, DR Congo, and Zambia (Zambia did not participate)
- Group B: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania
Results
- Champion: Kenya defeated Tanzania 2-0 in the final
- Third Place: Burundi
- Fourth Place: Uganda
- Fifth Place: DR Congo
Despite finishing fourth, Uganda’s team showed notable improvement in coordination, teamwork, and tactical discipline compared to previous regional appearances.
Achievements
The tournament produced several key accomplishments for Uganda:
- Successful Participation: Strengthened Uganda’s presence in regional amputee football.
- Team Exposure: Provided valuable international competition experience for players and officials.
- Regional Collaboration: Fostered partnerships and networking with other member countries.
- Improved Team Performance: Enhanced coordination, teamwork, and tactical discipline.
- Promotion of Amputee Football: Raised the profile of amputee football nationally and regionally, encouraging inclusion in para sports.
- Learning Opportunity: Offered insights into regional standards and areas for improvement ahead of future tournaments.
Challenges
Several challenges affected Uganda’s performance and the smooth running of the tournament:
- No Technical Meeting: Absence of a pre-tournament meeting led to confusion and uneven groupings.
- Language Barriers: French was predominantly used, and there was a lack of liaison officers for English or Swahili-speaking teams.
- Limited Preparation Time: The team had minimal preparation and no pre-tournament camp, which affected performance.
Conclusion Uganda’s participation in the CECAAF 2025 Amputee Football Tournament reinforced the country’s commitment to promoting para sports, inclusion, and regional collaboration. The experience gained by athletes and technical staff will inform future training and tournament preparation, strengthening Uganda’s competitiveness in amputee football at both regional and international levels
