Ex-boxer Juuko to auction championship belts to fund school for underprivileged youth

Former professional boxer and Commonwealth gold medalist Justin Juuko is making a comeback to the public eye with a new mission to impact his community.

At 52, Juuko has announced plans to establish a vocational training institute in his home village of Kitanda-Kagologolo, located in Bukomansimbi District, “aimed at providing underprivileged youth with valuable hands-on skills to address the region's high unemployment rate.”

The proposed institute, which will be built on a 10-acre plot Juuko purchased when he was 20, is designed to help local youth acquire practical skills that will prepare them for the modern workforce.

During a speech on Saturday at Kagologolo Church of Uganda Primary School, where his educational journey began, Juuko emphasized the importance of vocational education.

“What matters most are the skills. Those who go through this institute should be able to do something with their hands, not only speak English,” Juuko said, explaining that his goal is to leave a lasting legacy in his village.

Juuko, who gained international recognition for his success in boxing, said the idea of establishing the institute has been a long-term dream.

“I shined in boxing internationally, but when I die, I want my village to remember me for the institute and the skills it provides to future generations,” he added.

To fund the project, which Juuko estimates will require over Shs500 million (approximately $130,000), he plans to auction off his prestigious boxing belts and medals, including his World Boxing Championship, Intercontinental Championship (North America), and the Commonwealth Gold Medal he won in 1990.

Juuko also shared a message with parents, urging them not to stifle their children’s potential.

“I bought this land at 20 from the money I earned fighting under Mike Tyson’s card. If it weren’t for my talent, how would I have afforded it?” he said.

Edward Muwonge, chairperson of Kitanda-Kagologolo Village, praised Juuko for remembering his roots despite his international fame.

“We’re happy he is stepping in to bridge a gap. The nearest vocational schools are in Masaka City, which is too far. Our prayer is that the institute will also accommodate day scholars,” Muwonge said.

Known as the “Ugandan Destroyer”, Juuko is remembered as one of Uganda's most successful boxers, with his gold medal win at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland marking a milestone in the country’s boxing history.

He and Godfrey Nyakaana remain the last Ugandans to claim Commonwealth Gold in boxing.