Glasgow Glory: Sport can transform society’s perception of disability, Kukundakwe says after swimming into Uganda’s history with a Commonwealth medal

Uganda’s Husnah Kukundakwe has etched her name into the country’s sporting history after winning a silver medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8 at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, becoming Uganda’s first-ever para swimming medallist at the Games.

The 19-year-old produced a courageous finish at Glasgow’s Tollcross Swimming Centre, clocking 1:26.20 to edge England’s Iona Winnifirth, who finished in 1:26.31, by just 0.11 seconds in one of the closest races of the competition.

Kukundakwe admitted that fatigue nearly denied her the historic podium finish, but the deafening support from spectators and Ugandans cheering from home inspired one final surge.

“The crowd was roaring. It’s something that I’ve never actually been a part of before,” she said, in an interview with Olympics.com.

“I could hear the cheers from the crowd and all the support that was being given to me from all the way back home. I knew I could not disappoint them.”

She added: “I also had to make myself proud. All the training that I’ve done has led up to this moment. I knew I had to push on those last five to ten metres and bring it home for my country.”

A landmark moment for Uganda

The silver medal represents far more than personal success. It marks a breakthrough for Uganda’s para swimming programme, which has steadily grown around Kukundakwe’s remarkable rise over the past five years.

She first captured international attention when, at just 14 years old, she became the youngest athlete to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. She later represented Uganda in three events at the Paris 2024 Paralympics before delivering her biggest achievement yet in Glasgow.

Born without her right forearm and with an impairment to her left hand, Kukundakwe learned to swim at the age of three. Despite limited training facilities, Uganda has only one Olympic-size 50-metre swimming pool, she has developed into one of Africa’s leading para swimmers.

Her latest achievement is expected to boost interest in para sports across Uganda.

“There’ll be more people coming into para sport because they see that it reaps a lot,” she said.

“This medal is just a symbol, a sign that everything is possible. As long as you put your mind to it, as long as you believe in yourself and as long as you have the country’s best thoughts at heart, anything is possible.”

Changing perceptions

Beyond winning medals, Kukundakwe believes sport can transform society’s perception of disability.

She says many young athletes and parents now approach her to share how her achievements have inspired children to take up swimming.

“Even the non-para athletes come to me and say, ‘You really inspired us.’ Parents come and say, ‘You really encouraged my daughter to swim because she’s seeing you on TV.'”

For Kukundakwe, para sport is helping shift attention from limitations to possibilities.

“It changes perceptions towards disability. Instead of looking at what they can’t do, people start to look more at what they can do. It’s more about ability rather than disability.”

She believes this changing mindset can create wider opportunities for people with disabilities in education, employment and society beyond sport.

Balancing sport and academics

Away from the swimming pool, Kukundakwe is equally committed to her education.

She is studying mathematics and science with the ambition of becoming a paediatrician, a dream inspired by her desire to better understand the disability she was born with.

Despite balancing demanding studies with elite-level training, she remains deeply committed to swimming.

“The training is difficult, but I remember each and every time when I feel like I don’t want to train, that I love the water more than I hate training,” she said.

She also credits sport with helping her avoid negative influences that affect many young people.

“I have sport to ground me and keep me busy. Sometimes I think of it as a hobby, even though it’s a career, because I love doing it.”

Eyes on Los Angeles 2028

Although her Glasgow silver is a career-defining milestone, Kukundakwe has already turned her attention to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

She acknowledges that reaching another podium will require even greater commitment.

“It’s going to take lots and lots of training, lots of hard work to get to LA and perform really, really well. I’ll keep the hard work going.”

For Uganda, Kukundakwe’s Commonwealth Games success is more than a medal. It is a milestone that signals the emergence of para swimming as a growing force in the country and highlights the potential of athletes with disabilities to excel on the world stage.

Her historic silver has not only expanded Uganda’s sporting legacy but also strengthened the message that talent, determination and opportunity can overcome even the greatest barriers.