Embattled weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko is back from the cold and given the green light to compete in the national championships held at Ultimate Fitness Center Gym in Bugolobi on Saturday. 

He made his first official return to the sport after being pardoned by the mother body, the Uganda Weightlifting Federation (UWF), the National Council of Sports, and the Uganda Olympic Committee together with the Ministry of Education. 

He was impressive on his return and made a total of 227 kg despite being out of the competition for two years. 

“I am happy to be back and accepted into national engagements. I thank my employer, Ultimate Fitness Centre that gave me the job as the gym instructor through which I kept training and promoting my career. I thank the ministry, NCS, UOC, UWF, my family, and all the individuals who came my way like Maama Fiina Namutebi and who were with me when I landed into trouble,” noted Ssekitoleko after the event. 

“I promise to represent the country well and be able to inspire other sportsmen when I retire,” he added. 

The president of UWF, Salim Musoke said it was great to see that Ssekitoleko gets back on board and promised that if he beats the international qualification criteria, he will be back on the national team and thanked all those who worked on his reform.   

The 26-year-old  disappeared from Uganda's training camp in Tokyo ahead of the Japan 2020 Olympics.

He was arrested, deported, imprisoned, and bailed out of court in Kampala.