Meshack Rwampungu, the captain of the national wheelchair basketball team is set to launch an initiative aimed at using the sport to connect people, especially players with disability and those who don’t have disability. Rwampungu lives with disability on his back, which he sustained in a fatal car accident which his former team, Kigali Basketball Club, was involved in March 2015 while traveling to Huye district for a game with the University of Rwanda Team. ALSO READ: Former Hoops player Rwampungu is now a barber after tragic accident His new initiative dubbed ‘Sports on Wheels’ will be launched on April 29 at Lycee de Kigali Gymnasium. ‘Sports on Wheels’ is a series of events that will happen using basketball as an element to bring together people with disabilities and those who don’t have disability where they will be playing together. The non-disabled players, Rwampungu said, will come, sit in wheelchairs, and play for inspiration and inclusion purposes. Rwampungu told Weekend Sport that the idea to start sports on wheels’ initiative reflects on his life before and after the accident. I have been in two different worlds: standing and playing basketball, but after the accident that left me unable to walk, I use wheelchair now, he noted. “The reason behind my initiative is to connect the people with disability and those without it. I want the society to change the mindset and perspective about people with disabilities so that they see the potential and capabilities in them instead of looking at the disability part, he added. ALSO READ: Rwampungu appreciates pure love after receiving All-star game prize money Sports on Wheels will be organised twice a year, according to the player. This year's game will attract top basketball players including Aristide Mugabe, Bruno Nyamwasa, Olivier Kamilindi, Olivier Shayaka, Shaffy Habineza, Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Steven Hagumintwari, Dieudonné Ndizeye, Sedar Sagamba, Patrick Nahizirungu, Elie Kaje, Ali Kazingufu, Sanny Niyomugabo and Jared Harrington. Players with disabilities that will participate include Mechack Rwampungu, Jonathan Niyibizi, Basile Businge, Jean Luc Dusengimana, Hashim Muhirwa, Dieudonne Munyaneza, Callixte Twagirayezu, Jean Baptiste Semana, Jean de Dieux Nkurunziza, Claude Habamenshi, Emmanuel Hakizimana and Viator Dusengimana.
