By Moses Muhangi; Uganda Boxing Federation President.

The greatest AOB African coach ever (1968 – 1988) was Peter Grace Sseruwagi “the hard hitter” as he was popularly known.

He was indeed a “Hard Hitter” in the Light Welter weight category and he trained his boxers to do the same in order to win their bouts.

 He once knocked out Idd Amin Dada (RIP) during a National Opens Boxing Championship and he missed an opportunity to fight Muhammad Ali (Rip) during the 1960 Perth Commonwealth Games having lost in the quarter finals.

He was forced into retirement by Alex Odhiambo in 1964 and started coaching as Bomber Head Coach (Tom Kawere’s) assistant in 1965 to 1968 he assumed full Head Coach Status when Kawere became Deputy General Secretary of National Council of Sports in 1968.

As a coach, Peter Grace Sseruwagi virtually won every medal in the amateur boxing arena in the world. For example World Boxing Championship through Ayub Kalule (gold) and Joseph Nsubuga (bronze) (Rip) in Havana, Cuba in 1974.

 He won three Olympic medals through John Mugabi (Silver in Moscow 1980), Leo Rwabogo -RIP ( silver in Munich 1972 & bronze in Mexico 1968) and Eridad Mukanga (L/Fly weight) RIP (Mexico 1968 – the Africa’s first Olympic medalist).

He also won Africa’s first Commonwealth crown in 1970. By retirement in 1988 he had won Uganda 17 Commonwealth games medals including six gold medals (James Odwori, Muhammad Muruli & Benson Masanda in Edinburgh 1970, Ayub Kalule in Christchurch 1974, Muhammad Muruli in 1974, Jonathan Kirisa in Brisbane 1982, six silver medals & five bronze medals.

He also won six gold medals and several other medals during European/American tours like Montreal International Pre – Olympic tournament in 1975 thru Mustafar Wasajja and Jacob Odongo, Bangkok International in 1977 thru Vickie Byarugaba and James Ochaya, Trybuna Ludu Invitational Championship in 1978 & 1979 thru John Munduga and Stuttgart Inter-Cup Tournament 1985 gold thru Charles Lubulwa.

He also won several gold medals during the African Championship thru George Mathias Ouma (Lusaka 1968), Peter Odhiambo and Ayub Kalule (Nairobi 1972), Benoni (Ben) Kilega Ocan (Lagos 1973), Vitalish Bbege (Kampala 1975), Vickie Byarugaba (Algier 1978) and Lihanda Patrick (Nairobi 1987).

 He also won four during the Kampala 1977 World Amateur Boxing Championship gold thru Corporal Okumu (RIP), Lihanda Patrick, Owiny Dodoviko and Mande. And silver thru John Siryakibbe, Obote Edward and Nyeko Godfrey. And a bronze medal through Deogratius Musoke.

Among other international and regional championship medals, Oooooh!!! What a great Ugandan Sports Hero he is?

He left an indelible sports legacy comparable to none.

RIP legendary master.

Sseruwagi started his boxing career at Kyambogo College before joining the famed Kampala Boxing Club (KBC) in 1956.

In 1958, Sseruwagi handed Idi Amin Dada a crunching knockout during the National Open trials held at Nakawa. Sseruwagi was boxing for Kyambogo, while Amin was in Army Boxing Club

Sseruwagi was born in 1931 in Buyagga, Namutamba, Ssingo and died in 2018 at the age of 87 years.