Mudde: Bobi’s little-known trainer aching to be set free

At the height of political campaigns last year, several boxers believed to be close to then presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi were arrested by security forces over allegations of plotting to organise violent protests against the government.

"Some nights my little boy hears a knock on the door, and says ‘Mummy, dad has come.’ When I tell him he’s not the one, he asks: ‘why is he in prison? When will he come back home?’ Questions I can’t answer,” Jackline Bakira says as she broke down.

The wife of boxer Robinson Mudde Ntambi was among family and friends of the detained and missing persons, most of whom former campaign aides to former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.
Mudde, aka Ghetto Coach, was arrested with 48 others in Kalangala on December 30 last year, and charged by the military court with illegal possession of firearms and remanded to Kitalya Prison. Ironically, Bobi Wine was not arrested.

Mudde was supposed to fight in Grozny-Russia, on December 27, alongside colleagues Isaac Zebra Ssenyange and Joseph Lubega. But the event was rescheduled to January 23 because their European opponents, reportedly, tested positive for Covid-19.

However, the Ugandans missed the rescheduled event: Mudde in jail, Lubega in unknown detention, Ssenyange killed by the military – all in just two days.

Ghetto Coach
Mudde represented the defunct Mengo Social Centre Boxing Club, Kololo High before founding Rhino Boxing Club in the early 2000s with colleagues and turned pro in 2005.

Yasin Ssajjabbi claims to have been Mudde’s sparring partner “for most of his professional fights.”
“He has been my mentor since the training session we had at Kampala Boxing Club,” he says.

Ssajjabbi describes Mudde as a talented boxer who had power, though he never lifted weights.
“He was such a fitness nerd, his love for roadwork almost addictive.”
Raymond Ssentongo, the first of only two Ugandans to defeat Mudde as a pro, describes him as calculative, with a lethal right hook.
Ssajjabbi adds that in one of Mudde’s three fights against Robert Ssembooze, he promised to knock down his opponent in every round but let him last the distance. He did it.

When US-based Sharif Bogere was a rising star, Mudde was on the national level. Bogere recalls a spirited and talented fighter, with quick hands; “a very humble respectful man who loved helping others.”

His beneficiaries include Moureen Adhiambo, sisters Diana Turyanabo and Hellen Baleke, who fought at the 2014 World Boxing Championships in Korea.
“As a pro, he was one of the toughest in his division. His hand speed and power made it easy for him,” Bogere adds.

In January 2008, Mudde fractured a metacarpal of his right index finger in the fifth round, losing the vacant African Boxing Union SuperFly Title against Tanzanian Francis Miyeyusho.

His trainer Innocent Kapalata says the injury slowed his progress, but Mudde returned in November to defeat Sonny Kalule by unanimous decision, before stopping Kenyan Elijah Mringie in six rounds in December.
And in 2011, Mudde won the Universal Boxing Organisation World Super Fly Title against Tanzanian Fadhili Majiha, by unanimous decision – his only professional trophy so far.

“To me, Mudde’s a simple man who did great things. I pray he overcomes his ordeal,” Ssajjabbi says.

Few know Mudde among Bobi’s aides in detention. And few know that Mudde and Bobi grew up together as ghetto hustlers in Kamwokya, before Mudde shifted to Katanga, another slum just four kilometres away. (Before Eddie Mutwe and Nubian Li joined the camp).

When Bobi joined music, Mudde was a boxer add trained the ‘Ghetto president’ and his Fire Base Crew guards at Rhino, a makeshift gym in Katanga, sometimes in Kamwokya or at Bobi’s home in Magere.

For his fights, Mudde wore Fire Base-branded attire, with Bobi on the ringside.
When Bobi joined politics in 2017, Mudde retained his role as Ghetto Coach, training his guards. But he had other passions. He told his wife he played football. He is a carpenter in Wandegeya. He also tried music, earning the nickname ‘Sky Banton.’

Mudde is a Born-Again Christian who hardly loses his temper. One day, at Bobi’s One Love Beach, Busaabala, his wife remembers a man provoking him into a fight.
“It was too much and I expected him to fight back but he told me, ‘I know how a bare-knuckle punch hurts,’” she says.

Sweet science, dirty game
Last August, Mudde and Lubega led a group of boxers to declare their support for Bobi’s presidential bid at the NUP headquarters in Kamwokya. Lubega was tortured for 26 days in unknown detention.

But why, yet they are not the first boxers to show their political affiliations? Godfrey Nyakana and his rival Salim Uhuru are former boxers and staunch cadres of the ruling NRM.
Mudde’s promoter, Eddie Bazira, recently contested for Lord Mayoral sit as an independent. 
But all these boxers are free.

Last year, Mudde refused to join Kawempe Peacekeeping Vanguard (KPV), a group of disgruntled gangs, allegedly created to counter Bobi’s influence in the ghetto. 
“I can’t betray my brother [Bobi],” Mudde told his wife about the KPV deal.
Then threats started. Mudde met security agents who coerced him to denounce Bobi. They also told him President Museveni was planning to meet influential ghetto coaches, who allegedly trained potential rioters. Mudde denied the allegations.

He was arrested days later with dozens of others – only 14 have been bailed out. Not Mudde. He battles ulcers. And whenever his wife visits, she can only use chits to communicate with him.

Crime and boxing
Boxing gyms train different people, for fitness, health, self-defence, or sports. Some never even step into a boxing ring. But Ssajjabbi says it is easy for wrong elements to hide in boxing.

Mudde’s wife said that five years ago, Rhino dismissed three members who were accused of armed robbery.
The problem is global. Daniel Kinahan, a suspected drug dealer, runs world boxing, according to the BBC. The Irishman is behind the imminent $350m blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. His money has also benefited several amateur boxers.

In Uganda, Ssajjabbi says, the temptations are bigger. “Jobs are rare, especially for us who lack education but few of us are creative and when some lose hope in boxing, they can easily be used.”

When Ssajjabbi got disillusioned with amateur boxing, he had to find means of survival. “That’s when Ghetto Coach added me to his team of bouncers at Bobi’s concerts.”

Five years ago, Ssajjabbi formed a development association of abattoir workers, but because most of its members are boxers, in February 2020, security interrogated him about its operations.

Ssentongo concurs with Ssajjabi that politicians and businessmen often use boxers. “They know we can fight and most of us are needy,” they say.
“We have helped court brokers in demolishing buildings or evicting people, been guards to politicians, etc. just for survival,” says Ssentongo.

Now working with the welfare office at Ham Enterprises, Ssentongo’s job does not allow him to dub in politics. But if the recent political season found him desperate, he cannot rule out joining the wave.
Ssentongo and Ssajjabi say boxers did not join Bobi’s political camp for money.

“They love him because he is one of them.”

Student vs master
At his best, Mudde turned down offers to fight some of his former trainees, out of respect. But on November 16, 2013, he faced Ssentongo, his former trainee. 
Ssentongo had turned pro, with three wins and one loss but was still friends with Mudde and fought on his events.

“Mudde was highly respected and few gave me a chance. But I took the challenge because I thought a win would raise my ranking,” Ssentongo recalls.
In sparring, Bobi could beat Ssentongo, no wonder he asked him: “how dare you challenge Ghetto Coach?”

But Ssentongo was focused, and ready to fight for free. He asked for Shs200,000. The promoter offered half of that. Mudde promised to teach him a boxing lesson.
The fight was tight. Two judges scored 58-56 for Ssentongo, the third scored 59-55 for Mudde – a split decision victory for Ssentongo. 
Mudde went off the radar until January 2015, when he defeated Sula Sseguya at Kamwokya Firebase Club.

Bobi had missed the Mudde-Ssentongo fight which coincided with his concert upcountry and offered to sponsor the rematch. He even allowed Ssentongo to train from his beach for his future fights. But Ssentongo’s premature retirement failed the rematch.

Missed opportunity
In 2012, Mudde wasted an opportunity to fight for the International Boxing Federation World Super Flyweight title in Mexico and $35,000 out of impatience. 
“He joined another promotion and ended up fighting in Cairo for about $2,000,” Eddie Bazira, chairman Baltic Pro Box Promotions, said.

“We had plans to add him to our stable in Sweden but he was tempted by petty offers.”
Nevertheless, Bazira adds, Mudde’s talent deserved more accolades but small weights are hard to promote in professional boxing. 
Now, as husband and father of two, all Mudde needs is freedom.

Briefly

Bouts:     32, Wins 23 (7KOs),         losses 8[5KOs] draw 1
Rounds:     175
Career:     2005-2019
Pro debut:     Feb 24, 2005
Division:     Super feather
Stance:     Orthodox
Detained:     December 30, 2020

Honours
UBO World Super Fly Title (2011)
 

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