Meet Nigo Mohammed, “the paralympic-powerlifting champion of Uganda”

He lived in one of the poorest slum communities in Lugazi municipality, but people around him became inspired by his dedication and he began training neighbors in his homemade “outdoor gym”.

By Ssekamwa Isaac, Director, Sports Aid Network

Kampala – 10, May 2021: Nigo is the strongest athlete with a physical impairment in the country. However, he has never been to the Olympics, as athletes in Uganda generally have to find a sponsor or be self-funded to travel to competitions. So others less qualified have gone in his place. But this year we are desirous and fighting so hard to make his dream come true.

Nigo was able to travel to the Africa World Para Powerlifting Competition in Algeria last year and I’m happy to report back that he placed 3rd and pre-qualified for the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics.

Well, that is just what our Ugandan brother Nigo Mohammed is doing. He is training hard to be at the Tokyo Paralympics in Para Powerlifting. To qualify, he will compete at one more World Cup event in Dubai and earn the required score.

Here is a little bit of his story: Due to a case of polio as a child, his right leg was left crippled. He started his power-lifting career years ago by building his own weight, sets out of old machine parts such as gears and.

He lived in one of the poorest slum communities in Lugazi municipality, but people around him became inspired by his dedication and he began training neighbors in his homemade “outdoor gym”. This grew into the gym he now runs, a large rented space where you can see motivational posters around with bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and sayings like “If you don’t have time for the gym, you will have time for the hospital!” 

We are hoping to raise the much needed funds to take him for the qualifiers in Dubai and to the Paralympics in Tokyo Japan.

Therefore, if you or anyone has connections to anyone that would be interested to support him or a company in the health/wellness/fitness industry, please spread the word to find him a sponsor; to get him the resources necessary to make his mark on the world.

So if you’ve got a little cash or connections, join myself and others who know and love him, in getting Nigo to the Paralympics.

What are we doing at SAN?

Sports Aid Network (SAN) is an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through sports. SAN catalyzes a collaborative response to the complex sports needs of underprivileged communities, and supports the positive transformation of youth in post-conflict and post-trauma contexts around the world.

Since 2013, Sports Aid Network has supported the transformation and recovery process of youths around the world. Partnering with government entities, sports governing bodies, nonprofits and companies, Sports Aid Network has been constructing playgrounds, sports fields, and has provided equipment to communities, giving underprivileged children a chance to participate and excel in sports.

SAN also works to support long-term growth in children in refugee camps through sports programs that focus on life skills, inclusivity, and fostering the potential of youth leaders to fulfill SAN’s mission to work with and enrich the lives of underprivileged individuals and communities in the developing world, and to rehabilitate and transform youth in post- conflict and post-trauma regions through sports.