The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has pledged to support the works of former American professional football player, Mathias Kiwanuka.

The former Giants two-time Super Bowl Champion met with Gen Muhoozi at the Special Forces headquarters in Entebbe on Monday.

Kiwanuka, the grandson of Uganda’s former prime minister, Benedicto Kiwanuka, who played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL), has returned to Uganda with the aim of promoting American football in the country. 

“We will support you,” said Muhoozi during the meeting.

American football is yet to gain momentum in Uganda. 

Mathias’ grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was Uganda’s first Prime Minister. 

A tireless voice for democracy and the rule of law, he was brutally murdered by the dictator Idi Amin for refusing to be complicit in his tyranny. 

In the wake of Benedicto’s killing, Mathias’ parents fled to Indianapolis, where he was born 11 years later and grew up as an all-American, hard-working, football-loving kid. 

He worked so hard, in fact, that he became a first-team All-American defensive end for Boston College, then a first-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. 

Eight years and two Super Bowl championships later, he hung up his cleats to spend more time with his family and push himself to take on new challenges. Today, he is CEO of Wandering Wines and an active philanthropist. 

He has been involved in charity works in Konge, Bunga, Kampala.