Kampala, Uganda (CU)_ Hellen Baleke, the inspiring boxer woman in Kampala believes that self-defense is the crucial weapon for women residing in Katanga and says that she is well aware of it. Katanga is one of the biggest slums in Kampala and here the boxing offers woman a great chance to learn new skills which keep them stay away from the streets. Baleke said, “You have to fight if you want to survive”.
Baleke has been a professional boxer for the past 15 years, tossing jabs and uppercuts. Baleke became the first Ugandan woman to win a boxing medal in 18 years after she bagged the bronze medal at the 2019 African Games.
Baleke learnt boxing from her uncles, who taught her how to fight to protect herself, and now she inspires and encourages other young women to follow the same. Christine, one of the trainees of Baleke, said that she is a fan of Baleke and wish to become a boxer like her. She said, “I admired her since childhood, and I want to become like her. I want to become a senior boxer in Uganda”.
Apart from teaching the self-defense skills to the young women in Katanga, Baleke also runs a tailoring company where she employs young girls and teach them how to sew and stitch clothes. She said, “If you [are] on the sewing machine making something, you can make money. You cannot box for your entire life.”
Although the pandemic has laid both boxing and sewing on hold, Baleke wishes to get back the girls to training sessions soon. Her life ambition is to start a fashion designer business and run her own gym.
