Uganda’s boxing community is grieving the loss of former professional boxer Joseph Kiwanuka, popularly known as “The African Express,” who passed away on Wednesday evening at his family home in Kyengera, Wakiso District.
According to family sources, Kiwanuka died after a prolonged battle with multiple organ failure, bringing to an end the life of one of Uganda’s most celebrated boxing exports.
Born on May 10, 1971, Kiwanuka rose through Uganda’s amateur boxing ranks as a member of The Bombers before turning professional and pursuing an international career in Germany and later the United States.
Renowned for his power and aggression inside the ring, Kiwanuka established himself as a formidable force in the super middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions. Over the course of his professional career, he registered 28 victories, 7 defeats and 2 draws, including 21 wins by knockout.
The Ugandan fighter also trained at the famous Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, where he sparred and competed alongside several notable figures in world boxing. However, recurring eye injuries and worsening health complications eventually forced him into retirement.
Family members revealed that burial arrangements are currently underway, with Kiwanuka expected to be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kalangala District.
His death marks another painful loss for Uganda’s sporting fraternity, with tributes already pouring in from fellow boxers, trainers and fans who remember him as one of the country’s toughest and most respected fighters.