They came, they conquered where are they now?

SPORTS

Some of the sports greats in Uganda have left the sports scene. They came, they conquered but where are they now?

John Mugabi (The Beast) (Boxing)

John Mugabi (File photo)

Born March 4, 1960 he is a former boxer and world light middleweight champion popularly nicknamed as ‘The Beast' for his devastating punching power

He was the first African boxer to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.

1980, He won a silver medal during the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow

He moved to London where he became acquainted with boxing promoter Mickey Duff, an expert in boxer marketing who landed Mugabi various fights in England and built his reputation there

He won eight fights in Europe and then moved to the United States, setting up residence in Florida. In 1986, he won the Mugabi versus Marvin Hagler match, 1989, He won the WBC light middleweight title, 1991, he retired for 5 years and moved to Australia 

January 16 of 1999, Mugabi finally retired with a record of 42 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw, 39 wins by knockout 

On February 25, 2015 he arrived back from the diaspora after 21 years and in December 30, 2015 he was among the list of notable Ugandans recognised for their distinguished contribution.

Kamoga Davis

Kamoga Davis (File photo)

Born July 17, 1968, Kamoga in 1995 won the eight-place semifinal finish (45.92) at the World Championships.

July 29, 1996, in Atlanta, Kamoga shook the world by picking 400m bronze. On the starting line as the only African, he posted 44.53 seconds to finish behind Great Britain's Roger Black (44.41) and winner Michael Johnson (43.49).

1997, won silver at the World Athletics Championships in Athens, Greece. 

2001, Kamoga 

Mary Musoke (File photo)

 

In 1996, she was the flag bearer in Atlanta at her second Olympic Games. 2000, She also played in Sydney. In December 2002, she finished fifth overall in the Africa Singles senior table tennis championship in South Africa. She won four of her group matches before losing to South Africa's Tana Williams in straight sets.

Musoke in 2004 won Uganda's first individual bronze medal at the Africa Senior Table Tennis Championship in Mauritius.

2009, was crowned sports personality of the year by then First Deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategeya at the Prisons Officers Mess.

Mary Musoke was voted to the ITTF women's on the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) commissions during the world governing body election in Shanghai, China.

Musoke chaired the women committee at the ITTF continental federation in 2017, patron and Nakasero Table Tennis club

Polly Ouma (football)

Polly Ouma (File photo)

 
Ouma, was a key striker for army side Simba FC, and the national team, The Cranes. 

He led Simba to the finals of the Africa Cup Winners where they lost 3-2 to Gambia's Bangui.

He was also instrumental for the Cranes and in 1974, he was recognised as the sports personality of the year at their first sports gala.

starred in 1968, 74 and 76 Cranes finals,

February 2010, was committed to civil prison for failure to clear sh16m in a land transaction.

Kassim Ouma

 

Born - 12 December 1978, Ouma has 10 children (four boys and six girls) and he is now based in Germany,

In 1997 he was part of Uganda's team for the World Military Championships in San Antonio, Texas. July 10, 1998, Ouma made his debut with a first-round KO of Napoleon Middlebrooks.

InJanuary 15, 1999, he was put in a 12 round Florida state title bout against Victor Ramos winning his first championship belt. 

July 10, 1998, Ouma made his debut with a first-round KO of Napoleon Middlebrooks. January 15, 1999, he was put in a 12 round Florida state title bout against Victor Ramos winning his first championship belt.

In 2001, Ouma won the word title against Jermain Taylor in Little rock Arkansas. In 2001 he won his first fight against Verno Phillips in North Dakota.

By 2013, his record had improved to 28 fights, eight losses and 1 draw