My name is Jairus Wanyera Mukoota, a Ugandan living with a spinal cord injury (quadriplegia).

When I was just 17 years old, my life changed forever after a fall that left me paralyzed in all four limbs. Overnight, everything I had dreamed of became uncertain. I had to leave school. Friends disappeared. Hope felt very far away.

Living with a spinal cord injury in Uganda and much of Africa is not just a medical condition — it is a daily fight for survival. There is no national health insurance, very limited access to assistive devices, and almost no rehabilitation services. Basic medical supplies like catheters, diapers, pressure-relief cushions, or wheelchairs are often unavailable or unaffordable. Accessible buildings, transport, and sports facilities are rare.

Many people with spinal cord injuries do not survive long. Those who do often live hidden lives, facing stigma, discrimination, and the painful belief that their lives no longer have value.

I know this reality — because I live it.

From Survival to Purpose

For many years, I struggled just to survive. But in 2018, I made a decision: if I was still alive, then my life must have meaning.

I began visiting government hospitals, meeting people who had just acquired spinal cord injuries — young men and women whose lives had suddenly collapsed, just like mine once did. Every year on my birthday, instead of celebrating, I returned to the wards to give encouragement, hope, and whatever small support I could.

But I soon realized something painful: encouragement alone was not enough.

Rehabilitation through sport can save lives — physically, mentally, and emotionally. I looked around for inclusive sports in Uganda, but I was not eligible for most of them due to the severity of my injury. Once again, I was excluded.

That was when I discovered wheelchair rugby — a sport designed specifically for people with high-level spinal cord injuries.

For the first time, I saw a future.

Bringing Wheelchair Rugby to Uganda

After months of research, learning, and reaching out to international bodies — including World Wheelchair Rugby — I took a bold step and helped establish Uganda Wheelchair Rugby.

This was not easy. Uganda had:

Yet, we moved forward — because wheelchair rugby was no longer just a sport.

It became a tool for rehabilitation, dignity, and belonging.

How Tugende Was Born!

In January 2025, two friends from Barcelona, Spain — Pau (“Pauito”) and Oriol — came to Uganda and conducted Uganda’s first-ever 5-day wheelchair rugby training. This was not a tournament, but a foundational moment that introduced real skills, confidence, and belief to Ugandan athletes with spinal cord injuries.

Later in August 2025, with the support of Mr. Rufo (Italy), and Ms. Hellen (UK), we held a 3–4 day advanced training program. These trainings helped us grow stronger and more organized.

During this journey, we were blessed to receive nine donated wheelchair rugby chairs, along with balls, gloves, and equipment from friends in Italy and the UK.

From these trainings, a powerful idea emerged:

Uganda is ready for a real tournament.

August 2026: A Historic First

In August 2026, we are organizing the FIRST-EVER "Tugende Uganda Wheelchair Rugby Tournament — a 7-day international tournament planned between August 4th–11th."

This tournament will bring together:

Expected athletes and teams from Europe and other countries

Open invitation to wheelchair rugby players and clubs from Africa and around the world

This will not just be a competition — it will be a gathering of survival, hope, and community.

Why We Need Your Support

This GoFundMe campaign runs from now until July 2026 to help us prepare responsibly.

Your support will help us:

Purchase a shipping container to safely store donated rugby wheelchairs and equipment (we currently have no secure storage).

Organize the Tugende Uganda Wheelchair Rugby Tournament 2026, including:

Why This Matters

In Uganda, sport can mean the difference between:

Your donation — no matter the size — helps someone with a spinal cord injury believe again.

Tugende – Let Us Go Together

We invite you to be part of this journey — by donating, sharing, or even attending the tournament.

Thank you for walking with us.

Thank you for choosing inclusion.

Thank you for choosing life.

Tugende. Let us go together.

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Jairus Wanyera Mukoota

Founder, Uganda Wheelchair Rugby