Learners at Uganda School for the Deaf in Ntinda have received a new football pitch in an initiative aimed at creating more inclusive sporting opportunities for children with different abilities. The facility, refurbished by TECNO Mobile Uganda, is the first under the company's "Dream on the Field" campaign. This campaign seeks to provide young people with spaces to discover their talents, build confidence and pursue their sporting ambitions.
The initiative, done in collaboration with the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), places inclusion at the centre of sports development. It recognises that children with different abilities have often had limited access to suitable sporting facilities and opportunities to develop their talents. The new pitch is expected to benefit over 500 people from the surrounding community, in addition to the school's more than 250 learners.
Benon Kigenyi, KCCA Deputy Executive Director, who officiated at the opening, said the facility demonstrated commitment to ensuring that people with different abilities have opportunities to participate in sport. He acknowledged that many have been overlooked in talent development and said KCCA would continue supporting initiatives that make sporting opportunities accessible to everyone.
Kigenyi described the pitch as a platform for inclusion, talent development, health, happiness, confidence, teamwork, dignity and belonging for children who experience the world differently. Beyond competitive sport, he said the pitch could help learners build confidence, develop teamwork and strengthen their sense of belonging within the wider community.
Speaking on behalf of TECNO, Edinah Ahurira, the PR manager at TECNO Uganda, said the initiative was intended to make football accessible to everyone, regardless of background, ability, hearing, or speech. She explained that Uganda School for the Deaf was deliberately selected as the starting point because of the importance of ensuring that children with different abilities benefit from investments in sports infrastructure.
The newly renovated pitch covers nearly 1,000 square metres and provides a dedicated space for students to play, train and develop their football skills as part of everyday school life. It also creates more opportunities for them to come together through the game, build confidence and discover their potential. For deaf and hard-of-hearing young people, football can offer the same opportunities for teamwork, discipline, confidence and self-expression through different ways of communicating and experiencing the game.
Moving forward, TECNO will work with local schools, communities and football partners across Uganda, going beyond pitch renovation to support talent development and create pathways for young players to grow through the game. The project reflects TECNO's belief that access to sport should not be limited by physical ability or circumstance. The Uganda launch marks the first chapter of the initiative in the country.
Key points
- The new football pitch at Uganda School for the Deaf is part of TECNO's "Dream on the Field" campaign to create inclusive sporting opportunities for children with different abilities.
