A Ugandan-born former U.S. Navy service member is set to take part in the 2026 Department of Defense Warrior Games, a major American adaptive sports event for wounded, ill, and injured military personnel and veterans.
Originally from Mbale District, Uganda, she will be among more than 200 competitors drawn from across the U.S. armed forces, including the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Special Operations Command. The event is scheduled to run from June 13 to 20, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.
Retired Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Hanifah Mutesi will compete under the U.S. Navy team, taking part in archery, field athletics, indoor rowing, and precision air sports.
The Warrior Games, organised by the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), is now in its 16th edition. It is held annually to highlight the strength, resilience, and recovery journeys of service members and veterans living with serious injuries or illnesses. The competition uses adaptive sports as part of rehabilitation, helping participants rebuild confidence, physical ability, and mental wellbeing.
Mutesi enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2021 after relocating from Uganda, driven by a desire to serve and give back to her adopted country. She also hoped to gain skills, travel, and build a stable career through military service.
Her naval career, however, was interrupted when she sustained a traumatic brain injury, which later led to migraines, depression, and anxiety.
During her recovery, she was introduced to adaptive sports, where she found a supportive community of fellow service members facing similar challenges. Archery became central to her rehabilitation process, helping her regain concentration, patience, and self-confidence.
Navy officials note that her steady improvement in the sport has closely mirrored her broader recovery journey, offering her structure, purpose, and emotional stability as she healed.
This year’s Warrior Games also coincide with the U.S. Navy’s commemoration of 250 years of service in national defense, adding symbolic weight to its participation.
For Mutesi, the competition represents both a personal milestone and a chance to compete alongside some of the country’s top adaptive athletes, while also demonstrating resilience and determination in overcoming life-changing injury.
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