Your average city dweller will be familiar with the upscale residential area situated on the upper reaches of Naguru hill, abounding with imposing mansions and all.
Fewer though might know about the hill’s less glamourous yet important environs; the Naguru Go Down, or the fact it is the place to thank for some of the country’s most outstanding sportsmen.
A dangerous slum by night and a picture of poverty by day, it is the location that has birthed national sports icons in boxing, football, tennis, cricket, and athletics from John “The Beast” Mugabi to Phillip Omondi to Yayiro Kasasa.
Many successful sportsmen in Uganda have that humble starting point and many vividly recall how their first step on the journeys to stardom began in the slum.
Boxing star Mugabi, one of Uganda’s greatest footballers Omondi, rugby star Kasasa as well as longtime national tennis champion John Oduke plus John Ssebowa (table tennis) are all part of a long list of stars produced from the area.
Following in their footsteps in the present are ruggers who include Philip Wokorach, James Ijongat, as well as cricketer Roger Mukasa. So, what is it about the Naguru area and its ability to turn everyday people into sports superstars?
Proximity to Lugogo
The existence of Uganda’s biggest sports centre at Lugogo, a stretch which had over six football pitches, two hockey grounds, two rugby fields and the sport’s governing body, National Council of Sports complex in Naguru’s vicinity has a lot to do with ensuring the production line of sports icons from the area never runs dry.
“My closeness to the Lugogo pitches most especially the rugby fields where I used to play and see senior sportsmen especially rugby players like (ex-rugby international) Allan Musoke playing boosted my love for sports especially rugby and I eventually took up sports till to date,” said James Ijongat, a professional rugby player with Kobs rugby team explained.
The existence of Naguru Community Centre
Complementing Lugogo were other facilities within Naguru estates including football pitches, volleyball and tennis courts and the famous Naguru Community Centre, best remembered for serving as a boxing gym.
The facility’s gym aided the children from the many families within Naguru estates as a platform to turn them into formidable talent. No wonder, at one point almost the entire national boxing team was comprised of athletes from Naguru.
Rugby legend Yayiro Kasasa, who started off as a boxer and later played handball to national team level told Matooke Republic, “There was always too much multiple talents bred that growing stars at times failed to choose what sport to focus on. It is not surprising that Omondi also started off as a boxer.”
No shortage of role models
Meanwhile John Mugabi, who remains one of Uganda’s most successful professional boxers ever, in an interview revealed that besides the available facilities in Naguru, their rise to stardom was attached to the reputable idols who resided in the same area.
“As children, we followed our senior’s training through the gym’s windows. Before long, we were going through the basics. No one grasps faster than a child,” said Mugabi, adding that today’s fighters don’t really have idols to emulate.
The strategic location of Naguru
One important factor that cannot be ignored is that clubs like KCC (boxing team) and Naguru Boys used Naguru as a tapping ground which was beneficial for talent growth.
During school holidays, the children in the area would compete according to their areas of residence. The best talents would then compete in a Naguru versus Nakawa contest for selection to the giant clubs. Deceased former national boxer and coach Dick Katende, in reference to the stiff competition, said, “It was easier to win a national title than making it to the KCC team or Naguru Boys.”
However, today Naguru’s sports fortunes have changed with the local leaders banning boxing from the Community Centre and government authorities leasing out pieces of land which formerly used to be the sports fields to huge malls.
“It saddens me every time I come back to Naguru and see hopelessness everywhere. The playing fields are no more and many youth have resorted to alcoholism and drug abuse.
“I created a foundation to raise awareness and inspire youngsters to be focused,” said Brian Umony one of Uganda’s sportsmen who once roamed the Naguru slums but who went as far as representing the national football team, the Cranes, and also enjoyed relative success as a professional.