KAMPALA — September 9, 2026: Uganda’s differently abled chess team has departed for Uzbekistan to represent the country at the international Paralympic chess competition, with officials urging the players to compete with courage, discipline and determination.
The team was flagged off at the national council of sports before beginning its journey to Uzbekistan, where the players will face competitors from different countries.
The delegation is led by Coach Wilson Mugwanya, who has overseen the team’s preparations ahead of the competition.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Chebet Metron, the Assistant General Secretary Technical in charge of Sports, encouraged the players to give their best and represent Uganda with courage and character.
Chebet challenged the team to return home with medals, noting that the Government is willing to recognise and reward outstanding sportsmen and women, as it has done with other athletes who have excelled on the international stage.
He also called for stronger institutional support for chess, urging the Uganda Chess Federation to develop a framework that brings together the National Council of Sports (NCS) and other key stakeholders.
Chebet further encouraged the federation to engage the Ministry of Education and Sports on the possibility of introducing chess in schools, particularly within the lower secondary curriculum.
According to him, expanding chess at school level would help identify and nurture talent at an early age while giving more young people an opportunity to develop their skills.
Meanwhile, Andrew Bakiza, President of the Uganda Chess Federation, thanked the Government, through the National Council of Sports, for supporting the team’s participation in the competition.
Bakiza said the players had undergone serious training and were carefully screened to ensure that they were ready to compete at the international level.
He expressed confidence in the team’s preparations and said the federation is expecting positive results from the players in Uzbekistan.
The team’s participation marks an important step for Uganda’s differently abled chess community, demonstrating that disability should not prevent talented individuals from pursuing excellence in sport.
Beyond the medals, the trip is expected to provide the players with valuable international exposure, allowing them to compete against experienced opponents while gaining skills and confidence.
The delegation now carries Uganda’s flag to Uzbekistan with hopes of returning with medals and inspiring more persons with disabilities to take up chess and other sporting disciplines.
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