The 2025 National Disability Sports Gala
Something special happened in Masaka City last October. More than 380 athletes from every corner of Uganda – from Rukungiri in the southwest to Gulu in the north – came together not just to compete, but to prove a point. That disability is not inability. That sport belongs to everyone. And that Uganda is ready to build a generation of champions.
The 2025 National Disability Sports Gala ran from 10th to 18th October at Muteesa I Royal University in Masaka City — eight full days of competition, community, and celebration. Organised by the Uganda Paralympic Committee (NPC Uganda) in partnership with Masaka City, Masaka District, and Muteesa I Royal University, this year’s gala was the biggest and most inclusive edition yet.
If you’ve never attended a disability sports gala, here’s what you need to know: it is loud, it is emotional, and it will change the way you see sport forever.
Who Was There
Twenty-three teams made the journey to Masaka. That’s districts, cities, municipalities, universities, and secondary schools representing Uganda from end to end. Teams included household names like Kyambogo University, Makerere University, MUBS, and Gulu University, alongside district teams from Ibanda, Sheema, Nwoya, Isingiro, and many more.
Teams That Competed
- Rukungiri District
- Isingiro District
- Mvara Secondary School
- Gulu High School
- Gulu Community
- Masaka District
- Kabale Hornby High School
- Masaka City
- Bukomansimbi
- Lwengo District
- Kyotera District
- Nwoya District
- Kyambogo University
- MUBS
- Makerere University
- Gulu University
- Iganga Municipality
- Sheema District
- Ibanda District
- Muteesa I Royal University
- Wakiso District
- KCCA
- Kalungu District
Sports Disciplines
Seventeen sports disciplines ran across the eight days — which is no small logistical feat. Referees, coaches, and classifiers worked tirelessly to keep competitions fair and on schedule. Medals were awarded daily, a smart decision by the organisers that kept the energy high throughout the week rather than cramming everything into one closing ceremony.
For fans of para sport, this kind of variety is rare. You could watch wheelchair racing in the morning, goalball in the afternoon, and powerlifting in the evening — all on the same day, all at the same venue.
What Made This Year Different
A Host That Went Above and Beyond
Muteesa I Royal University didn’t just lend their grounds — they hosted athletes in their accommodation facilities, provided training areas, and ensured competition spaces were properly set up. Masaka City and Masaka District worked closely with the NPC from the very beginning, making the kind of coordination that usually falls apart at national events actually work.
Accessibility Was Built In, Not Bolted On
Ramps, support staff, accessible facilities — these weren’t afterthoughts. The team planned accessibility into every aspect of the venue and programme. A dedicated medical team and ambulance were on standby throughout all eight days, and safety checks were done every single morning before competitions began.
New Stars Were Discovered
One of the most important outcomes of any national gala is talent identification — and 2025 delivered. Several athletes caught the attention of technical officials and coaches as potential candidates for future national and international competitions. For para sport in Uganda to grow, these pipelines matter enormously.
The Honest Part: What Still Needs Work
Any honest account of this gala has to include the challenges too — because acknowledging them is the only way to fix them.
Funding remains the biggest constraint. Some sports lacked equipment, and a few districts couldn’t send full teams because of transport costs. Accommodation at the venue was stretched with over 380 participants, and a handful of athletes arrived without the assistive devices they needed – wheelchairs, visual aids, and other tools that make full participation possible.
National media coverage was thinner than it should have been. The stories coming out of Masaka that week were extraordinary – and yet most of Uganda didn’t see them. That needs to change.
There were also weather delays (it rained, as it does in October), and some sports disciplines needed more qualified technical officials to run smoothly. These are solvable problems. And the fact that the gala still delivered — despite them — speaks to the resilience of every team involved.
Where We Go From Here
The 2025 National Disability Sports Gala has set a high bar — and also shown us exactly what needs to happen to clear it consistently.
The Uganda Paralympic Committee is calling on government agencies, private partners, NGOs, and donors to increase support for disability sports. Not just financial — equipment, transport coordination, media partnerships, and trained technical personnel all matter just as much.
For districts, the message is clear: start mobilising athletes and resources earlier. The later you start, the harder it is for your team to show up fully prepared and fully equipped.
And for Ugandans everywhere — if you’ve never watched a disability sports competition, find one near you. It will remind you what sport is really about.
The Theme Says It All
“Breaking Barriers, Building Champions.” That’s not just a slogan. It’s an accurate description of what happened in Masaka City for eight days in October 2025. Barriers of perception, of distance, of limited resources — broken, one competition at a time. Champions in sport, yes, but also in determination, in community, and in showing the rest of the country what’s possible.
The 2026 National Disability Sports Gala cannot come soon enough.
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Uganda Paralympic Committee Disability Sports Uganda Para Sports Inclusive Sport National Disability Sports Gala Masaka City 2025 Para Athletes Uganda NPC Uganda Breaking Barriers Sports For All
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/other-sport/mubs-rules-at-disability-sports-gala-5238440
