Actress Cleopatra Koheirwe's tale of her endearing love for boxing, how Champions League is positively shaping the sport

Cleopatra Koheirwe during the UBF Champions League in Lugogo | UBF image

BOXING Actress Cleopatra Koheirwe's tale of her endearing love for boxing, how Champions League is positively shaping the sport

Allan Damba • 17:00 - 17.08.2023

Yet still, Cleo, as she is popularly known, has a strong passion for boxing, spanning from her toddler years.

Cleopatra Koheirwe is a name that rings loud in theatre, film, general entertainment and the media industry.

Very rightly so, as she has been there, seen it and done it all: a musical artist, dancer, radio and TV host, writer, actress and motivator, you can name it.

Yet still, Cleo, as she is popularly known, has a strong passion for boxing, spanning from her toddler years.

"My love for boxing started when I was a kid; I loved martial arts, karate, taekwondo, ninjas and anything to do with kickboxing," she reveals to Pulse Sports Uganda.

Cleopatra Koheirwe's love for boxing is unmatched|Cleopatra Koheirwe twitter

"I studied karate and taekwondo in senior two, but I didn't take it on seriously. I was sporty, and I loved sports from way back."

Koheirwe, who starred in the 2006 Hollywood film 'The Last King of Scotland as Joy, was an ardent follower of the sport, along with her family, attended several international bouts as a kid.

Cleopatra Koheirwe is a sporty, with strong passion for boxing

"At one point around Primary six, we hosted boxer Justine Juuko at our home in Tanzania and watched him fight live. I was intrigued because he was such a big star then."

Cleo took on a Wannabe boxer role in one of her many film roles, 'Kona', a DStv Kenyan Series,' which she executed perfectly.

"I had to play a part of a boxer; I was like a wannabe boxer in 2013, a role I got as Jackie in a Kenyan DStv series called 'Kona', which is on Showmax now."

Cleopatra Koheirwe in her role as a boxer in "Kona"

"My father in the series was a Kenyan, and he was a coach at a boxing gym, and we got to act with different famous boxers, including Fatuma Zarika," Koheirwe recalls.

She then relishes having to trade in a sport she has always loved, together with her dream career - a perfect match.

"During that time, I got to train with male boxers intensely; I got to know about boxing, and because my interest was already there, it was an exciting experience."

Meanwhile, the former Obsessions singer, dancer and actress feels boxing in the country is on the right course to a big industry.

Cleopatra Koheirwe in one of her acting roles

"Boxing is growing in Uganda because it had died out sometime back; I didn't know much about boxing in the country until around 2020 when my cousin (Laura Ainebyona) started boxing again."

"She was boxing in the 50kg weights and was pretty good, so I started looking out for boxing here, and then I got to see what was happening with the Uganda Boxing Federation."

"It had started to grow in a way, the vision the president Moses Muhangi and the team had, and when you listen, you would wonder how he'd do all of it because it seemed so much," Koheirwe notes.

"The sport is growing, and it's one of the sports that's doing well. People didn't think the Boxing Champions League would work, but it has put boxing up there," she reiterates.

Koheirwe goes further ahead to appreciate the role the Uganda Boxing Champions League (UBCL) is having towards developing the sport.

"I was there from the beginning as the Champions League started, from the start and I was intrigued with some of the boxers like Teddy Nakimuli, Ukasha Matovu, Joshua Tukamubebwa, Zaharah Nandawula, Isaac Zebra Junior."

"I also love Jonathan Kyobe, Ssali Wasswa, Erinah Namutebi, Shakirah Nantongo, Sultan Mariam and several others."

"I love the boxing Champions League nights because of, especially, the thrill of having people watching the games live; it's different from watching them on TV."

She adds: "The organization is spot on, they now have a new ring, and they are doing a good job."

"I love the ring walk, some of the boxers come in as stars, they do it the star-way, that gives it the showbiz, there's a lot to love about the champions league nights," the jolly former WBS TV host adds.

'A sporty girl,' she said: Well, Cleo is a follower of many other sports disciplines and takes time off to watch games or attend the respective events.

"I have also always been a basketball fan; I used to love D-Mark Power. I follow the Gazelles with my girl Flirsh (Flavia Oketcho)," she adds.

"Netball caught my eye and attention when Sarah Babirye Kityo (Netball Federation president) was arrested for stuff that I don't buy," objects Koheirwe.

"It drew my attention to netball, and I noticed that netball has been doing well and recently did very well at the World Cup in South Africa, so it's a sport I follow."

"I also follow UFC, although that's not in Uganda, Thai Martial Arts, Wrestling and rugby, though I've not had time lately to watch rugby games."

Koheirwe has transitioned into many things, from dance, theatre, print media, TV, radio, and writing, to film.

She has been featured in several movies and television series, including The Last King of Scotland, Changes on M-Net, Kona, Be the Judge, Yogera, Sense8, 27 Guns, Reflections, and more.