Sport can liberate, but it can also exclude. For many young African people living with disabilities, athletic ambition is weighed down by barriers that begin in schools, in communities, and in the silence of low expectations. Yet among them, a defiant generation is rising—one that refuses to be reduced to just “inspiring.” One of those voices is Ugandan Paralympian and youth advocate Husnah Kukundakwe, who, at just 18, has competed on the world’s biggest stages. Now, as the newly appointed vice chair of the Paralympic Committee Athlete's Council, she is amplifying the voices of African youth, proving that barriers are meant to be broken.
In a deeply reflective exchange with Global South Pole, she explained how swimming didn’t just build her strength; it gave her a language for self-worth and a message for millions still waiting to be heard.
Before infrastructure, before policy—she believes the spark begins with purpose. And the rest, she says, follows.
“Change starts with sport because without swimming, I don’t think I would be the confident, outgoing girl that I am now […] I always tell people to be determined, be passionate about what they do, and do it with one heart to the fullest […] I was able to achieve going to my first Paralympic Games at such a young age with lots of hard work and determination and passion. And if you attribute them to your life as well, you’ll definitely be able to achieve your dreams,” Kukundakwe affirmed.
To listen to the whole conversation, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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