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MUKONO, Uganda – Deep in a forested area just outside of Uganda’s capital, the sounds of enthusiastic cheers and thuds echo through the trees as a group of young Ugandans grapple in a makeshift wrestling ring. Here in Mukono, under the bamboo poles and mud, dreams of professional wrestling careers are taking shape.

Every week, dozens of youths, many of them orphans, gather around this rudimentary ring, paying a commitment fee of 100,000 shillings ($26)—about ten days’ wages for an average construction worker. They come to train, hoping to escape the harsh realities of poverty in this farming region. The ring, simple and constructed from bamboo lashed with rope, becomes a stage for their aspirations.

Daniel Bumba, a 35-year-old local wrestling enthusiast known in the community as Bumbash, is the driving force behind these sessions. Having been a wrestling fan since his childhood, Bumba later became a video jockey, translating WWE matches into Luganda for local fans. Now, he aims to broaden wrestling’s appeal in Uganda through his group, Soft Ground Wrestling.

Soft Ground Wrestling has already begun to attract international attention. In February, American wrestler Jordynne Grace highlighted the group on the social platform X, raising the possibility of providing a professional-grade wrestling ring. Following this, a GoFundMe campaign was initiated by supporters in the U.S., raising over $10,000 to help secure the land rental for training and potentially buy a proper ring.

Despite initial suspicion from local authorities, who questioned the activities at Soft Ground Wrestling, the group has continued to grow. The community currently pays $250 monthly to use the four-acre property. Bumba’s vision extends beyond just training wrestlers; he plans to establish a wrestling academy to help keep local youth out of crime and give them a focus.

Among the hopefuls is Daphine Kisaakye, a young woman who became enamored with wrestling while working as a domestic worker in 2019. Her exposure to WWE fights on television sparked a passion that brought her to Bumba’s training sessions. Alongside her, about 100 other trainees, including other aspiring female wrestlers, share a camaraderie and a vision of representing Uganda on a global stage.

Injuries are a concern, yet they are mostly minor, managed with care and a safety-first approach emphasized by Bumba. Jordan Ainemukama, one of the wrestlers, mentioned the occasional shocks and bruises but noted serious injuries were rare.

As these young wrestlers continue to train in their unconventional ring, their dreams grow ever more tangible. With international support and community efforts, the prospect of a proper wrestling academy in Uganda seems within reach, promising a new chapter for these determined athletes.