American Dream: How Ugandan sports stars found success in the US

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James Truslow Adams was a celebrated American author. His books about American history in the 1930s were highly regarded by scholars around the world.

In one of his famous book ‘Epic of America’, Adams promulgated the phrase ‘American Dream’ – a slogan that has influenced generations and motivated lives inside and beyond the boundaries of the US.

Originally, the emphasis was on democracy, liberty, and equality.

Ronald Mugabi, Edson Benda, Ali Lukungu and Alex Tulilaba. In the sports sector, football remains Uganda’s primary source of exports to the US. (Courtesy photo)

But over time, ‘American Dream’ has become associated with financial success and personal fulfillment.

The ‘American Dream’ has not only shaped American identity and aspirations, it has inspired generations of Ugandans, many of whom are footballers. And hundreds are already living the American Dream here in the US.

As of June, last year, there was an estimated 32,900 Ugandan immigrants living in the United States.

Of these, 0.3% were former sportsmen, with potential to attain legendary status with Uganda’s sports teams or become elite football stars.

But for different reasons, not least career change, many decided to move and pursue the ‘American Dream’. Some travelled for studies and settled for more rewarding jobs in different states of the US. 

Celebrated exports

In the sports sector, football remains Uganda’s primary source of exports to the US. Basketball, athletics and boxing then follow. Of all, Ibrahim Sekagya remains Uganda’s biggest and most successful sports export to this part of the world. 

Sekagya, the current assistant head coach at New York Red Bulls has assumed legendary status at the US-based club for winning the 2013 Supporters’ Shield as a player, and as a coach, leading New York Red Bulls II to the 2016 USL Cup and Regular Season title, as well as an Eastern Conference semi-finals appearance in 2023.

Ibrahim Sekagya is Uganda’s most accomplished and celebrated footballer. (Credit: New York Red Bulls)

Sulaiman Tenywa, Robert Sejjemba, Steven Nsereko, Mike Azira are the other retired Ugandan football talents pursuing careers in different roles across the US.

In boxing, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Justin Juuko, and Segawa Sulaiman are highly respected in the ‘red and blue’ corners of the sport here.

Boza, a former WBC Super Featherweight champion, works with the flamboyant Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was in fact inducted in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Fred Mutuweta is based in West Palm Beach, Florida while Mohammed Kayongo retired in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Juuko has worked with the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach, while Sharif Bogere, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Sulaiman Segawa are considered one of Uganda’s most successful boxing exports to the US.

Uganda’s most notable powerlifter Roy Mubiru resides in Lexington, Massachusetts.

In basketball, Arthur Kaluma, Adam Seiko, Stanley Ociti, Claire Lamunu and Jane Asinde have all waved the Ugandan flag in bygone times. Kaluma is currently playing for the LA Lakers Summer League team, while Tarsis Orogot, Uganda’s best sprinter, is based in Alabama.

In American football, Mathius Kiwanuka (the grandson of Benedicto Kiwanuka), is a former National Football League (NFL) star who earned two Super Bowl rings with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, before retiring into wine business. Kiwanuka, who spends time with his family (wife Tessa, a highly accomplished interior designer, and their adorable children Elle and Milo), is into philanthropy and business. He is a co-owner of Wanders Wines in Florida.

Respected professionals

After moving to the US, a reasonable number of footballers chose career paths outside of the sport.

Former Proline captain Musa Mawanda graduates in Medicine (Oncology). Benda (left) and Mujib Kasule attended his graduation. (Courtesy photo)

While still in Uganda, a reasonable number of footballers had parallel interests alongside their football careers. Moving to the US offered them a chance to graduate in various professions and consider alternative career paths in coaching, entrepreneurship, and corporate business.

Arthur Byasiima is a qualified financial expert. Hussein Ssali and Henry Kalungi are entrepreneurs, while Ali Lukungu is a (CPA, Certified Public Accountant), Robert Ngumire a (Human Resource Manager), Alex Turilaba a (procurement and logistics manager), Edison Benda a (JP Morgan Internal Audit and Quality Assurance manager) and Musa Mawanda is a Professional Doctor in Oncology, Medicine.

In golf, Amos Kamya, a professional golfer, has secured a position as the head coach and teaching pro at the Boston Black Golf Association (BBGA) while Ronald Otile currently resides in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Joel Basalaine, Titus Okwong, Daniel Baguma, Collins Ajidra and Emmanuel Jakisa are the other Ugandans who were playing golf and pursuing studies at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.