Uganda’s man of steel
Hidden behind his cream gentlemanly suit is a well built, muscular body. Packs of muscle embellish his chest, arms and thighs.
By Elvina Nawaguna
Hidden behind his cream gentlemanly suit is a well built, muscular body. Packs of muscle embellish his chest, arms and thighs.
After failing at football and other sports, Robert Ssebugwawo tried bodybuilding and modelling.
His journey to the land of opportunity and to shaking hands with people we only see on TV had started.
When he graduated from Makerere University in 1997, Ssebugwawo did not just have his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, but also admirable biceps he had been building during his time at the University.
By a stroke of luck, a British man who met him at Sheraton Hotel was impressed by his muscle and sent him to England for the Mr. South-West England competition. He won a bronze medal.
“This experience spurred me to continue intense training in bodybuilding,†the sturdy man says. The first born in a family of six, Ssebugwawo was born in Kampala and raised in Mengo area.
He went to school at Kampala Primary School before Joining St. Henry’s College Kitovu and later Makerere University.
He moved to the US later in 1997 and settled in Massachusetts for further studies in Accounting.
Two years later, he competed in the Mr. New England states competition where he took the fourth position and in the North American bodybuilding competitions in April 2000 scooping third best.
However, things were a little too slow for his liking in Massachusetts. Through his links, he moved to California in 2001, where he dug around for people who could help him in his bodybuilding career. This is how he met Arnold Schwarzenegger, now governor of California who encouraged him greatly.
“He gave me words of inspiration, saying it was a long journey to come from Africa and so I had to carry on my dream,†Ssebugwawo says.
He participated in other competitions where he got to mix with world-renowned body builders like the Current Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman, Lee Haney of “Totalee Fit†show on TBN, Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Anthony Melvin.
Eventually he started his own shape and fitness centre in California, which provides nutrition, fitness and personal health management services to his clients.
The 34-year-old model’s abilities go far beyond his muscle. While working at Harvard Business College in Boston, some of the professors noticed that he was also gifted in writing and encouraged him to get his work published. He was linked to publishers and given a seven-year contract.
His first book, ‘Living and Inspiring Poetry’, was published in June 2004 and is on sale in USA, Germany and UK. The book is an Anthology of his poetry compiled over 10 months.
Ssebugwawo is in Uganda for a few weeks to raise awareness of this book. Another book of his called ‘Love is a Journey,’ will be out in three-months time.
As if writing and modelling were not enough, the tall, light skinned Muganda man has his eyes on the movie industry in California where he hopes to become an actor. “I met Denzel Washington in church and talked to him about it and he has encouraged me,†he says enthusiastically. Having worked as an accounts assistant at Warner Brothers, Ssebugwawo has created himself useful links in the movie industry. He says he has connections with some of the actors and directors like Mel Gibson and hopes to be in the movie industry by 2006.
“I try to position myself in places that matter,†he says. He lives in Los Angeles, the city of two of the world’s most powerful film studios, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers.
Ssebugwawo’s father, a veterinary doctor died in 1987, leaving him in the single hand of his mother, a veterinary assistant. With the Aunt’s help, Ssebugwawo’s mother saw him through school. He is married to Grace Lubwama whom he stays with in Los Angeles. One day, Ssebugwawo hopes that dual citizenship will be permitted, so that he can start movie studios in Uganda.
Hidden behind his cream gentlemanly suit is a well built, muscular body. Packs of muscle embellish his chest, arms and thighs.
After failing at football and other sports, Robert Ssebugwawo tried bodybuilding and modelling.
His journey to the land of opportunity and to shaking hands with people we only see on TV had started.
When he graduated from Makerere University in 1997, Ssebugwawo did not just have his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, but also admirable biceps he had been building during his time at the University.
By a stroke of luck, a British man who met him at Sheraton Hotel was impressed by his muscle and sent him to England for the Mr. South-West England competition. He won a bronze medal.
“This experience spurred me to continue intense training in bodybuilding,†the sturdy man says. The first born in a family of six, Ssebugwawo was born in Kampala and raised in Mengo area.
He went to school at Kampala Primary School before Joining St. Henry’s College Kitovu and later Makerere University.
He moved to the US later in 1997 and settled in Massachusetts for further studies in Accounting.
Two years later, he competed in the Mr. New England states competition where he took the fourth position and in the North American bodybuilding competitions in April 2000 scooping third best.
However, things were a little too slow for his liking in Massachusetts. Through his links, he moved to California in 2001, where he dug around for people who could help him in his bodybuilding career. This is how he met Arnold Schwarzenegger, now governor of California who encouraged him greatly.
“He gave me words of inspiration, saying it was a long journey to come from Africa and so I had to carry on my dream,†Ssebugwawo says.
He participated in other competitions where he got to mix with world-renowned body builders like the Current Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman, Lee Haney of “Totalee Fit†show on TBN, Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Anthony Melvin.
Eventually he started his own shape and fitness centre in California, which provides nutrition, fitness and personal health management services to his clients.
The 34-year-old model’s abilities go far beyond his muscle. While working at Harvard Business College in Boston, some of the professors noticed that he was also gifted in writing and encouraged him to get his work published. He was linked to publishers and given a seven-year contract.
His first book, ‘Living and Inspiring Poetry’, was published in June 2004 and is on sale in USA, Germany and UK. The book is an Anthology of his poetry compiled over 10 months.
Ssebugwawo is in Uganda for a few weeks to raise awareness of this book. Another book of his called ‘Love is a Journey,’ will be out in three-months time.
As if writing and modelling were not enough, the tall, light skinned Muganda man has his eyes on the movie industry in California where he hopes to become an actor. “I met Denzel Washington in church and talked to him about it and he has encouraged me,†he says enthusiastically. Having worked as an accounts assistant at Warner Brothers, Ssebugwawo has created himself useful links in the movie industry. He says he has connections with some of the actors and directors like Mel Gibson and hopes to be in the movie industry by 2006.
“I try to position myself in places that matter,†he says. He lives in Los Angeles, the city of two of the world’s most powerful film studios, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers.
Ssebugwawo’s father, a veterinary doctor died in 1987, leaving him in the single hand of his mother, a veterinary assistant. With the Aunt’s help, Ssebugwawo’s mother saw him through school. He is married to Grace Lubwama whom he stays with in Los Angeles. One day, Ssebugwawo hopes that dual citizenship will be permitted, so that he can start movie studios in Uganda.