Former North American Boxing Champion Joseph Kiwanuka dies in Kampala at the age of 55

The US-based Ugandan former boxer Joseph Kiwanuka—also known by his boxing alias, “The African Express”—is dead. Family sources said Kiwanuka who rose to fame bacause of his entertaining boxing style had returned to Uganda and died of multiple organ failure at a private health facility in Nsangi. Fighting out of Las Vegas, Kiwanuka was an amateur star in Uganda before moving to the US to pursue a professional career. He became the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight champion in November 1996 by knocking out Segundo Mercado in Philadephia.

“The African Express” Kiwanuka compiled a career record of 28 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws (28-7-2), with 21 knockout victories. He was called “The African Express” because of the way he fought — fast, relentless, forward‑driving pressure that overwhelmed opponents. The nickname wasn’t about identity or stereotypes; it was about his boxing style and reputation in the ring.

Relentless pressure — Kiwanuka fought at a constant pace, always coming forward, throwing combinations, and refusing to slow down.

High work‑rate — He was known for throwing a lot of punches per round, especially in his super middleweight years.

Fast starts — He often opened fights aggressively, taking control early.

Long unbeaten streak — Beginning his career 19‑0‑2 made him look like a “train” running through opponents.

Fan perception — Promoters and commentators described him as “coming like an express,” and the name stuck.

Known as a tall, powerful puncher (6’2″ with a 82″ reach), he was a formidable, feared pugilist who consistently ranked in the top five of his divisions. He captured the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight title in November 1996 by defeating Segundo Mercado in Philadelphia. He went undefeated in his first 21 professional fights (19-0-2), breaking into the “pound-for-pound” top 10 rankings during the mid-to-late 1990s. He moved up to light heavyweight and cruiserweight to challenge for higher-profile titles, facing notable fighters such as Thomas Tate, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Jaffa Ballogou, and Vasili Jirov. He faced several notable opponents, including:

• Thomas Tate
• Glen Johnson (whom he defeated by split decision in 1998)
• Julio César González
• Jaffa Ballogou
• Vassiliy Jirov

These were tough, world‑class fighters, and Kiwanuka’s record became more mixed as he climbed divisions. By 2003–2004, Kiwanuka suffered multiple losses, including:

• Jirov (2003)
• Ballogou (2004)
• Coelho (2004)
• Simms (2004)
• He retired around 2004, partly due to traumatic cataracts and other health issues. After retiring from boxing around 2004 following a series of bouts and struggles with traumatic cataracts, he hit hard times and dealt with financial issues in the US. With the help of the boxing community and charitable assistance, he was able to have eye surgery and successfully returned to live in Kampala, Uganda, in 2008. He passed away in May, 27, 2026 in Kampala Uganda from multiple organ failure.