NTPowerHouse Countries

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

Population: 27.6 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Kampala
Area: 241,038 sq km (93,072 sq miles)
Major languages: English (official), Swahili, Ganda, various Bantu languages
Monetary unit: Ugandan Shilling

Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom. Most important cities are located in the south, near Lake Victoria, including the capital Kampala and the nearby city of Entebbe. English became the official language after independence. Swahili is widely used as a trade language throughout eastern and central Africa. The parliament voted in September 2005 to make Swahili the country's second official language.

Uganda has got potent bodybuiders. Charles Kasasa won the Africa championships in the early eighties and was a semi finalist in the Mr. Universe. We have so many local gyms mostly in Kampala, we also have some professional gyms but these are too expensive for an ordinary bodybuilder. You have to pay an equivalent of $10 daily in order to train in these gyms.

The first ever Mr Kampala Championships was organized and won by Charles Kasasa a retired army lieutenant, he represented the country at Mr Universe October 8-9, 1982 in Belgium and was a semi finalist in an event won by Lee Haney. He won Mr. Kampala championships for three consecutive years. In 1983 he won Mr Africa championships held in Egypt and the East African championships the same year. He always used his own money to attend all these events since no one considered bodybuilding as a sport in Uganda. In 1985 James Onyango beat Charles and became the second Mr Kampala. In 1986 this event didn't take place. 1988 championships were won by Ssejjombwe. Due to lack of sponsorship this event didn't take place until 1994 and it was Ssejjombwe again winning for the second time, he won for three consecutive years and in 1998 Kuteesa took over, 1999 it was Steven Sserumaga, in 2000 - 2003 it was Isaac Nsumba. There was no single bodybuilding competition in 2004 due to lack of sponsorship, in 2005 the event changed name to Mr Uganda and Nsubuga Zephaniah Kawuulu won the first ever Mr Uganda championships. Uganda has got talented well defined bodybuilders but lack sponsorship to compete in continental and international events.

Kalyango (left and upper right picture) is our correspondent in Uganda and has contributed to this article.
I am an IFA certified fitness instructor and a qualified travel consultant. I was a footballer before i joined the fitness industry, I was a goal keeper but i left football because i couldn't combine with studies. A friend of mine encouraged me to join bodybuilding because he was also an instructor in one of the local gyms, I got so much interested in this sport and that's why i am giving it a lot of time. I am 29 years old.
Visit my website at www.musclemeddy.st20.com

The Uganda Body Building & Fitness Association (UBBFA) produces drug-free bodybuilding competitions in Uganda. It is an amateur association affiliated to the pro level International Fitness & Physique Association (IFPA). Charles Lukwago (above pic) is the present Secretary at UBBFA and he's himself a brilliant bodybuilder.

I personally offer the followimg services:

1. offer one-on-one consultation, training and on-line program design for all training classifications including fitness, bodybuilding and sport-specific programs.

2. I can provide all coaches, athletes and trainers with the valuable knowledge required to achieve optimal performance.

John Bosco Ssebabi crowned a great year 2006 by emerging Mr Uganda a month after winning the African Bodybuilding Championship bronze in Cairo. John Bosco pumps iron at Nakivubo. Former champion Nsubuga Kawulu (Umoja Gym) was knocked out early in the heavyweight contest.

Here are the overall final results of the last Mr Uganda 2006 that took place on October 29 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Kampala.

1. John Bosco Ssebabi
2. Ismail Mukalazi
3. Ivan Byekwaso
4. Moses Kasibante
5. Munyagwa Vicent
6. Mutebi Joseph
7. Jackson Ssemanda.