206 Views 6 Populality January 2026

How inclusive sports enhance inclusion at the University of Rwanda

As part of the celebrations for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2025, the University of Rwanda, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UR, organized inclusive sports competitions to promote inclusion, equity, and student wellbeing.
Through the competitions, students experience that disability is not inability, and it provides an opportunity to reaffirm that every student deserves equal opportunities to participate, excel, and thrive within the academic community.

The competitions also offer a meaningful platform to promote interaction, teamwork, and solidarity among all students. By creating safe and inclusive spaces through sport, the University enhances students’ confidence, collaboration, and recognition of their talents.

According to Mr. Kiyaga Elias, in charge of Student Life Experience at the University of Rwanda, sports play a critical role in students’ holistic development. “Sports help students stay healthy, build confidence, strengthen teamwork, and improve focus in class. For students with disabilities in particular, inclusive sports contribute significantly to breaking stigma, boosting self-esteem, and encouraging full and active participation in university life,” he added.

For 2025, the competitions featured inclusive sporting disciplines such as Goalball and Sitting Volleyball, with teams of both girls and boys from various University of Rwanda campuses. The games brought together students from diverse backgrounds and abilities, fostering mutual understanding and reinforcing the values of equality, respect, and shared responsibility across the University community. Such competitions were also organzied in last years.

Throughout the competitions, students demonstrate remarkable talent, creativity, and innovation, reflecting the University’s belief in inclusive excellence. This lat year 2025, UR Rukara Campus emerged as winner in the Goalball competition for boys, while UR Huye Campus won the Goalball title for girls. In Sitting Volleyball, UR Nyagatare Campus won both the girls’ and boys’ categories.

The organization of these competitions reflects the institution’s sustained commitment to inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity, ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, are empowered to contribute, succeed, and help shape a more inclusive future.