Ugandan mud wrestlers dream of glory on world stage

Source: eNCAnews

UGANDA - In a mud pit ringed off by bamboo poles and two thin yellow ropes, a young Ugandan woman lies face-up after being tossed upside down by her opponent.

She gets a second wind and takes down her rival with one swipe at her feet -- to the delight and cheers of dozens of fellow wrestlers watching from the sidelines of the rickety ring.

The barefoot youngsters are training in "soft ground wrestling" at the Bumbash Wrestling Academy in the town of Mukono, some 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of the capital Kampala, hoping their skills may one day lead to fame and glory.

The sport copies the style of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the United States.

Like WWE, the Ugandan version is as much theatre as sport, with bouts announced using the gimmicks of American shows and supervised by a referee in a bold black and white striped top.

But competitors in Uganda endure spartan training and living conditions.