Lifter Mubiru faces weight battle

By Michael Nsubuga

SOUTH Africa based Ugandan power lifter Roy Mubiru has intensified preparation ahead of the WASO Venice power lifting, body building and martial arts championship in, Italy due June 23-24.

The 110kg Mubiru who is eyeing a chance to compete in the Strongest Man on Earth championship in November in the US has been trying to cut his weight to 100kg in order to fit in the category in which he is going to compete in Italy.

The Venice championship will have events in power lifting, weightlifting, modeling, martial arts and body building.

As he competes in power lifting six other Ugandans including three girls will also be trying out their luck in body building, martial arts and muscle modeling competitions.

From Italy, Mubiru will head to Canada to compete in the Vancouver championship before heading to the US where other competitions are lined up for him in different states.

But that will come after sealing a deal with potential American promoters from Las Vegas.

The Americans were impressed by his strength and want him to compete in the lucrative strongest man on earth events across the US in November.

Winners in the strongest man on earth events win up to $100,000 (sh25m) per event. 

Mubiru, together with his manager Mohamed Ssemanda, plans to stage and sponsor a local event later in the year that will involve benching, squatting and dead lifting as a way of promoting the game locally.