Uvira opens DR Congo's first national amputee football championship

The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched its first national championship for amputee football in Uvira, giving players affected by conflict a national platform and a route back into social and sporting life. The tournament, held from 23 to 25 September, brings together teams from South Kivu, North Kivu and Tanganyika.

South Kivu and North Kivu drew 1-1 in the opening match at Uvira’s Stade de l’Unité. The result began a competition designed not only to identify sporting talent, but also to strengthen the place of people with disabilities in Congolese society. Organisers want amputee football to become a lasting part of the country’s sports landscape.

For several players, the tournament carries a personal significance beyond the score. Félix Bisengimana of North Kivu lost a leg when a bomb exploded as he fled fighting. Tanganyika captain Ngongo Lambert has described football as helping him regain confidence, mobility and a sense of freedom after his amputation.

The Congolese National Paralympic Committee organised the event with financial backing from the International Committee of the Red Cross, whose wider inclusion work largely supports conflict victims. Five provinces had initially been expected, but only three made the journey because of limited resources. That shortfall underlines the logistical and financial barriers still facing adapted sport in the country, even as Uvira’s championship seeks to challenge perceptions of disability.