Uganda Prision was one of the very first to host Taekwondo in Africa, besides Ivory Coast and Egypt. The Korean martial art was introduced in Uganda in 1962 when Master Nam Suk Kim from South Korea was invited to teach self-defence techniques to officers and men of Uganda Prisons. Ever since, Uganda Prisons Headquarters in Luzira has been the seat of Taekwondo in the country. Over the years, Uganda has hosted a number of Korean masters who have greatly contributed to the development of the sport at national level, including Master Pak, trainer of Uganda Police Force in the 70s, and Master Lee, founder of the Lee Training Centre at Kisugu, in the suburbs of Kampala, and national coach, who has trained generations of Ugandan martial artist since the early 90s. Uganda is proud of having won the first medal for Africa in an international Taekwondo competition. Welterweight athlete Odut A. F. won a bronze medal at the 2nd World Taekwondo Championship held in Seoul in 1975. The first African woman to be awarded Black-belt in Taekwondo, Ms Adeke, is also Ugandan. More recently, Ugandan athletes have participated in international Taekwondo in Kenya, South Africa, Libya, Algeria, Malaysia and Turkey, and put up impressive performances.
History
UGANDA PPRISON MARTIAL ARTS CLUB (UPMC) Uganda Prison Martial Arts Club (UPMC) was founded in the early 70s, and by 1962, its Chairperson and former Commissioner of Uganda Prisons, Mr Etima, was elected to the World Taekwondo Federation Executive Committee.
Leading Team
In 2012, Luziira Prison Martial Arts Club won Gold Medals, placing the Uganda armed forces in the top rank in Martial Arts Record. In 2016, the first African Cup Championship, Ogwang Mark won a Gold medal in power breaking(strength test), and Brenda Masendi, among women, won a gold medal taking first place in combat and power breaking. Among the fighter who came back victoriously are Okello Robinson, Lubanga-Kene Simon, and Angella Paul.
Alboho Eddie Newton stands out in ITF as the gold medal winner in the 2021 Championships.