UVIRA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — Uvira hosted the first national amputee football tournament in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 23 to 25 September, bringing together players from North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika.

The three-day event combined sporting competition with an opportunity for athletes affected by violence and armed conflict to connect, rebuild confidence and pursue social reintegration. It also sought to give greater visibility to sport for people with disabilities in the country.

All the participants were amputees, with players moving across the field using crutches. For some, the tournament offered a way to look beyond injuries that have changed their mobility, daily lives and relationship with the world around them.

Football as a route to recovery

Félix Bisengimana, a player from North Kivu, said football had given him a reason to look to the future after losing his leg during the war.

“When the war broke out, I fled with our soldiers. We took refuge in a banana plantation. That is where a bomb fell on us. The shrapnel severed my leg,” Bisengimana said.

Ngongo Lambert, captain of the Tanganyika team, described the personal impact of returning to the field.

“I feel like I am being reborn, despite my disability. Today, I feel free, at peace and completely fulfilled thanks to football,” he said.

Betty Myangindula Mbenza, president of the Congolese National Paralympic Committee, said the tournament could help players regain confidence while encouraging wider participation in sport.

“It is also an opportunity for them to value themselves, showcase their talents and, why not, inspire other young people with disabilities who can take part in sport,” Mbenza said.

Support and participation challenges

The International Committee of the Red Cross supported the National Paralympic Committee in organising the competition. Eva Bonjele, a disability inclusion adviser at the ICRC in the DRC, said sport was part of the organisation’s effort to promote inclusion among people affected by conflict.

“Ninety percent of our beneficiaries are victims of armed conflict. They are players or young people who have been affected by armed conflict. We want to promote inclusion through sport,” Bonjele said.

Five provinces had initially been expected to take part, but only three were able to travel to Uvira because of a lack of resources. The reduced participation reflected the logistical and financial pressures faced by athletes with disabilities, including the distances between provinces in the DRC.

The organisers and players now face the challenge of sustaining the initiative beyond its first edition. For the athletes who took part, the tournament provided both a chance to practise their sport and a public platform for demonstrating the abilities of people living with disabilities.