How Victoria University’s Tumukunde defied odds to reign supreme in Africa

The story of rising sports star DAN ‘DANTONDELION’ TUMUKUNDE is an inspirational one from the brink of despair to the podium of champions. As Geofrey Serugo writes, the sky is the limit for the highflying and ambitious youngster. bitious youngster.

The weight of the barbell is immense, but it is nothing compared to the weight Dan Tumukunde once carried on his shoulders. Just two years ago, the crushing pressures of poverty, lost opportunity and the cruel taunts of body-shaming convinced the then-17-year-old that a decent future was beyond his grasp.

Today, that same young man stands atop the African podium, not once, but three times, a golden medal around his neck and a continent at his feet. Tumukunde’s story is more than a sporting fairytale; it is a powerful testament to how a single act of faith can redirect a life teetering on the edge, and how holistic support can unleash world-class potential.

The journey to the recent African Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Ghana, where he clinched three gold medals in the formidable 110+kg category, began not in a state-of-the-art gym, but in a place of profound hopelessness.

Fresh out of O-level in 2022, Tumukunde faced a stark reality. His mother, shouldering the burden of raising his younger siblings, could not afford to send him to A-level. Academically stranded, he also battled the personal demon of insecurity about his weight.

“I felt hopeless,” Tumukunde recalls, a sentiment that is almost unimaginable when looking at the confident champion of today. “The world had closed in on me.”

His search for solace led him to the Kisugu Unified Gym. His goal was simple: to lose weight, rebuild his shattered confidence, and simply stay busy. He had no grand ambition of becoming an athlete. But destiny, in the form of keen-eyed coach Ivan Masakwe, had other plans.

Masakwe saw not just a young man trying to get fit, but a raw powerhouse of strength waiting to be channeled. He encouraged Tumukunde to try weightlifting. Yet, a new dream brought a new set of obstacles.

The rigorous regimen of a budding athlete—proper nutrition, supplements, dedicated training—costs money he simply did not have. He was caught in a cruel paradox: his talent was his ticket out, but he couldn’t afford the fare.

Then, the turning point. At a regional tournament, a man in the crowd wasn’t just watching the lifts; he was watching the lifter.

BIG BREAKTHROUGH

Dr Lawrence Muganga, the vice vhancellor of Victoria University, saw something in Tumukunde’s determination. He inquired about the young athlete and learned of his financial predicament.

In a move that would redefine Tumukunde’s future, Dr Muganga didn’t just offer advice; he gave Tumukunde a lifeline.

“Dr Muganga gave me a ray of hope at a time when I had no hope,” Tumukunde says.

The offer was holistic, addressing the complete person, not just the athlete. Dr Muganga offered him a full scholarship to pursue a certificate of his choice at Victoria University. Tumukunde chose Computer Science.

Furthermore, Dr Muganga committed to covering all expenses associated with his weightlifting career—supplements, equipment, and transportation. This comprehensive support system removed every barrier that stood between Tumukunde and his potential.

“At Victoria University, we believe in nurturing talent in its entirety,” said Dr Muganga. “Dan’s story is a perfect example of what can happen when we support the whole individual—mind, body, and ambition. We are not just building a student or an athlete; we are building a future leader.”

Unshackled from worry, Tumukunde’s ascent was meteoric. The gold medals began to pile up: first at the Uzani Games in Nairobi, then a spectacular seven-medal haul at the 2023 African Championships in Cairo, which crowned him African Youth Champion.

Each victory was a step further from the despair of his past. Now 20 years old, his stats are the stuff of legend—a 230kg clean and jerk, a 240kg squat, a 250kg deadlift. But the numbers he speaks of most proudly are his academic grades.

He is diligently upgrading his certificate to a diploma and eventually a degree in Computer Science, praising Victoria University’s hands-on curriculum for allowing him to engage in meaningful work even before graduation.

Tumukunde has now set his eyes on representing Uganda at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA. So, ahead of his dream, it has become evident that the weights he lifts now are chosen.

They are a challenge he embraces, not a burden he endures. And with the unwavering support of his benefactors and the power of his own will, Dantondelion is lifting himself, and his nation, to incredible new heights.

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