Golola kicks harder… with words
The winners.
What you need to know:
Tiger Roars. Even without a fight under his belt in years, Moses Golola proved once again that his mouth remains his most lethal weapon—landing verbal uppercuts on a government he believes has kicked sport to the curb.
It was supposed to be a celebration, but Moses Golola doesn’t do predictable. Draped in a traditional backcloth, high boots kissing his shins, and his cherished championship belt hugged tight around his waist, Golola turned the Lazio Restaurant in Kololo into a verbal octagon on Tuesday.
The occasion? His Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony at the Fortebet Real Stars Sports Monthly Awards. The result? Vintage Golola - part comedy, part criticism, all charisma.
Often misunderstood as merely a showman, Golola remains a pivotal figure in Uganda’s sports renaissance. He introduced kickboxing to Ugandan living rooms in the early 2010s, turning what was once seen as a fringe combat sport into a primetime spectacle - complete with sell-out arenas, ring-side bravado, and unforgettable one-liners. His recognition as a Lifetime Achiever wasn’t just symbolic; it was overdue.
Sports begging
For 10 unfiltered minutes, the motor-mouthed messiah of Ugandan kickboxing tore into the government for what he called ‘criminal negligence’ of the sports sector.
“We are representing the nation,” he bellowed. “But it’s painful to see the government throw billions at politicians for passing bills while sportspeople beg for peanuts.”
He wasn’t done. “It is sad that people who put much effort into sports are not recognised. I don’t even know if the government understands what is going on in the sports industry,” Golola lamented, before offering a practical path forward.
“Government must come up and support companies like Fortebet and Jude Colour Solutions - maybe through tax waivers. These are the real MVPs of Ugandan sport.”
But as always, Golola masterfully laced his jabs with humour, softening blows with punchlines that had journalists, athletes, and guests choking on laughter.
At the photo op, he made Rugby Lady Cranes star Lydia Namabiro, sister to Victoria Pearls bowler Sarah Walaza, and Kabaddi winner Eunice Awori sit on either lap, while football teen sensation James Bogere towered behind like a royal bodyguard—straight out of an ancient Kingdom.
History makers
In truth, the Real Stars Monthly Awards - now in their sixth year - have become one of the few platforms consistently celebrating Uganda’s sporting heroes.
This month’s honours had a distinctly feminine edge, with Namabiro and Awori rewarded for history-making performances.
The Lady Cranes’ promotion to Rugby Africa Tier 1 was no fluke, with Namabiro scoring six tries during their unbeaten run.
Awori, on the other hand, captained Uganda’s Kabaddi side to a rare qualification for the World Cup after a gritty display at the Africa Women’s Cup.
And then there was Bogere, all of 17, whose three goals and one assist helped Uganda qualify for its first-ever FIFA U17 World Cup.
“He’s going to be one of the stars of the next generation, now we must go easy on him and maybe in a year or two, he will give Ugandans a lot of joy,” El Cambio Academy Founder Thomas Thor told this reporter.
Beating out seasoned strikers like Umar Kasumba and Samuel Ssekamatte in the voting was no small feat.
Yet for all their brilliance, Golola remained the day’s undisputed main event. “Recognising sportsmen isn’t just about awards; it’s about inspiring the next generation,” he said with a dramatic pause that made the whole room nod in agreement including the awards CEO Isaac Mukasa and ambassador comedian Alex Muhangi.
NUMBERS
4: Total awards handed out at the Fortebet Real Stars Sports Monthly Awards
17: Age of football winner James Bogere, who helped Uganda qualify for its first-ever FIFA World Cup
6: Tries scored by Lydia Namabiro to power the Lady Cranes into Rugby Africa Tier 1
1: Lifetime Achievement Award—Golola’s first national-level honour for pioneering kickboxing in Uganda
