Bukedde’s Ekigwo a breath of fresh air

May 31, 2009

LAST Sunday will stay in my memory for a long time. I watched one of the wrestling bouts at Kasana Playground in the Bukedde FM Kigwo Gumbya National Wrestling Championship tournament. <br>

By Masaba Herbert

LAST Sunday will stay in my memory for a long time. I watched one of the wrestling bouts at Kasana Playground in the Bukedde FM Kigwo Gumbya National Wrestling Championship tournament.

The wrestlers who hailed from Bulemezi and Buruli displayed skill and intellect.
Seeing them jumping up and down warming up, reminded me of Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and how he had gained fame over the nine villages of Umuofia through his prowess as a wrestler.

Each side had eight wrestlers who hurled each other to the ground for points.

One man, Luta Asanasiyo, stood out like Goliath. Luta the Goliath fell to a David in the form of Kakande Abdala. On many attempts, he failed to throw his opponents to the ground leading to the loss. Kakande was declared champion of Bulemezi.

The boys from Buruli showed amateurish techniques since they hardly knew the art of throwing their opponents down. They also lacked in physical build.

The audience, ranging from boda boda riders, traders and residents of both Kasana and Luwero. It was evidently their first time to watch such an event as they made noise and encouraged the wrestlers to fight on.

Eventually, Buruli had a winner in Mustapha Sekyanzi after he sweated with Kibuuka Gabson in a repeated match , one of the best of the day.
The town mayor and justice minister Kiddu Makubuya were present.

In his speech, Makubuya thanked Bukedde FM for building mental as well as physical fitness among Buganda youth.

“In wrestling you not only gain a sense of discipline and patience. But also equip your self with a sense of direction,” said the minister.

Participants bagged items like cosmetics and T-shirts from sponsors Zain Uganda, Samona Products, Hakuna Matata and NBS TV.

The winners went home with bicycles while runners-up went with Nokia portable Zain mobile phones.

The Luwero folks then went to their homes with strong memories at heart.
Bukedde FM gets a thumbs-up for revisiting past traditions such as wrestling.

The winners will represent their counties in the finals to be held on August 30 at Wankulukuku Stadium in Kampala.

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