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Akii-Bua: The chief’s son who became athletics king
For the last 50 years since Uganda became independent, no sports achievement can beat what late John Akii-Bua accompolished. Akii-Bua is actually among the very few Africans recognised among the world’s 100 best athletes of all time along side the likes of Kipchoge Keino (Kenya), Hassiba Boulmerka (Algeria), Abebe Bikila (Ethiopia), and Saidi Aouita (Morocco).
In the 1972 Olympics held in Munich, Germany, this greatest Ugandan sports personality of all time made history by winning the 400 metre hurdles with world record time of 47.82 seconds. Although prior to the Olympic games, Akii-Bua had proved his worth in most athletics events after the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia he was advised by Uganda police athletics coach Jerome Ochama to embark on specialized systematic training in athletics.
Later Akii-Bua’s chances brightened with arrival of Arnold Malcom, an athletics coach from Wales seconded by the British government to train Uganda’s athletes. It took Arnold jut a few weeks to spot Akii-Bua’s potential and within no time discovered that the hugely talented Ugandan was superb in the hurdles.
Later with the guidance of Arnold, Akii-Bua made the time for 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico in the 400 metre hurdles (52.00 seconds) but somehow failed to make it in the 110 metre hurdles whose qualifying times was 14.30 seconds , failing short by only 0.10 seconds.
In other international athletics meets in which Uganda participated, Akii-Bua teamed up with the country’s other top athletes of the time like Aggrey Awori (former minister and MP) and Steven Erone. Akii-Bua’s Olympic medal campaign began in early 1971 when he timed and gauged his performance against the world record of Britain’s David Hemery and within no time at Wankulukuku stadium became the first African to run the 400 metre hurdles under 50.00 seconds.
This was disputed by John Valzian, a mzungu coach attached to Kenya who was also in charge of Kenyan Billy Koskei, the man who had beaten Akii-Bua in the Edinburg Commonwealth Games of 1970.
A chance to prove himself came a few weeks later when four countries USA, Germany, Russia and the rest of the world team met that June in Berkely, California and Arnold used his influence to get Akii-Bua invited along.
To the great surprise of the world, the Ugandan won the 400 metre hurdles quite easily in 50.20 seconds and in the 400 metre flat relay he achored in for the rest of the world team to win easily.
From then on, the name Akii-Bua began to to be sung in sports media and invitations poured in. In July 1971, there was an inauguration competitions between Germany, USA and Pan African teams in Durham, North Carolina, USA. At this invitation in which all the great stars at the distance were present, Akii-Bua clocked 49.00 seconds.
This marked the official recognition of Akii-Bua around the world and he thereafter got various invitations in Europe and Scandinavian countries. Before heading for the Munich Games of 1972, Akii-Bua is said to have done a total of 800km of cross country running in addition to the jogging exercise and weight training which he did in order to build his muscles.
Coach Arnold’s only ambition was to see Akii-Bua smash the then 400 metre hurdles world record of 43.01 seconds held by David Hemery of Britain and this Akii-Bua did during a practice session but it was kept a secret by his coach. When the September Munich Games came, Akii-Bua was indeed at his peak.
During the elimination rounds, he easily went through. In the semi finals, however disaster befell him when he hit an hurdle and got a deep cut on the left knee. The same day he had a tooth extracted which resulted into a swollen cheek. Tension was reportedly high in the Ugandan camp on the day of the finals. The team doctor, one Kasirye refused to have the cut stitched in the fear of weakening him and the Ugandan ambassador then, Prince John Barigye was also equally concerned .
The previous night, Akii-Bua had refused to talk to anyone or eat anything as his mind was set on the finals, causing even more tension in the Ugandan camp. Then finally came the finals and the announcer called the hurdlers to the starting point. This is when his coach Arnold Malcom told him to remember hurdle number five. At hurdle number five is where he had been instructed to change his stride pattern from the left leg to the right.
Though he was on a disadvantageous lane, he made no mistake but ran fastest to clock 47.82 seconds-setting a new world record. In second place finished Ronald Mann of USA (48.51). David Hemery of Britain was third in 48.52 seconds, fourth emerged Joe Seymour of USA (48.64) and in fifth place came Riut Schubert of Germany.
The joy amongst Ugandans in the Munich Olympic stadium was reportedly beyond description. Ambassador John Barigye jumped on the foray while Akii-Bua himself kept crying and laughing at the same time in disbelief.
He was however not granted an opportunity to defend his title as a number of African countries boycotted the 1976 Olympics in New Zealand.
This is where American Edwin Moses lowered Akii-Bua’s mark to 47.64 seconds. John Akii-Bua passed on June 21, 1997. In Uganda he had been honoured with a street and stadium named after him. Then president Idi Amin rewarded him with a house and a car. In the police force, Akii-Bua was immediately promoted to Assistant Inspector of police while contracts from PUMA, a renowned sports kit firm poured in.
Born in Lira district in December, 1948 to the county chief of Abako, Yusef Lusepu Bua, John Akii-Bua studied at Abako primary school and proceeded to junior secondary school in 1964 at Aloi Ongom secondary school in Aloi county.
He later dropped out of school when his father died as nobody could pay his school fees. Later with no idea of what to do after his education hopes had been shattered, Akii-Bua enrolled in the Ugandan police force.
At Nsambya police training school, where physical training and sports were compulsory, his talent which had gone almost unnoticed during his school days, immediately began to show up.
He passed out in 1967, getting posted afterwards to Nsambya, Masaka, Mpigi and Buwama before returning to Kampala.Records show that it was police coach Jerome Ochama who encouraged Akii-Bua to take sports seriously.
Akii-Bua R) is congratulated by a colleague after winning the 110m hurdles event at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
