The US-based Ugandan former boxer Joseph Kiwanuka—also known by his boxing alias, “The African Express”—is dead.
Family sources said Kiwanuka who rose to fame bacause of his entertaining boxing style had returned to Uganda and died of multiple organ failure at a private health facility in Nsangi.
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Kiwanuka was an amateur star in Uganda before moving to the US to pursue a professional career. He became the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight champion in November 1996 by knocking out Segundo Mercado.
“The African Express” Kiwanuka compiled a career record of 28 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws (28-7-2), with 21 knockout victories.
Known as a tall, powerful puncher (6’2″ with a 82″ reach), he was a formidable, feared pugilist who consistently ranked in the top five of his divisions.
He captured the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight title in November 1996 by defeating Segundo Mercado in Philadelphia.
He went undefeated in his first 21 professional fights (19-0-2), breaking into the “pound-for-pound” top 10 rankings during the mid-to-late 1990s.
He moved up to light heavyweight and cruiserweight to challenge for higher-profile titles, facing notable fighters such as Thomas Tate, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Jaffa Ballogou, and Vasili Jirov.
After retiring from boxing around 2004 following a series of bouts and struggles with traumatic cataracts, he hit hard times and dealt with financial issues in the US. With the help of the boxing community and charitable assistance, he was able to have eye surgery and successfully returned to live in Kampala, Uganda, in 2008.
