Cricket star Kyobe (right) with fan, Mugabi. PHOTO BY ISAAC SSEJJOMBWE
Arthur Kyobe needs no introduction in the cricket sport in Uganda. He’s the opening batsman on the Uganda national cricket team. He’s the best left handed player on the team and has several times been voted man of the match in different local and international tournaments. He meets his fan Daudi Mugabi a businessman in Kampala at Capital Shoppers in Nakawa.
Hi Arthur. How are you?
I’m so fine Daudi. How are you?
Please tell me more about yourself?
My name is Kyobe Arthur, a Ugandan cricketer, born to Teddy Mukasa and the late Simon Mukasa, raised in Jinja and the third last of eight children.
Which schools did you attend?
I went to Jinja SSS for my O Level and Makerere College for my A-level before completing my Bachelors of Science in accounting at Makerere University Business School in 2012.
When did you start playing cricket?
I started at an early age. I began playing when I was in P.4 at Mengo Primary School in 1997 and been playing since then.
Why cricket of all sports?
I think it was a calling. Initially, I was so much into football but my friends introduced me to cricket. It was the only sport played in our quarters in Jinja so I became interested in the game and when it was introduced in schools, I became part of it.
What role do you play in cricket?
I’m an opening batsman. I basically begin the game for my team.
Which teams have you played for since turning professional?
I’ve played for Jinja Association Cricket Council (JACC), MarksPark in Johannesburg, Mirafolk in North West South Africa, Simba union in Nairobi, ACC in Uganda, Nile Knights and currently Tonnado A and I have also played in Muscat, Oman. Of course I am on the Uganda national team.
Who inspired you to play Cricket?
My childhood friends in the estates where we used to stay. They used to play cricket all the time and when the Uganda Cricket Association organised school tournaments, I was motivated a lot because we used to travel a lot.
Who is your best cricketer of all time? Someone you look up to?
He’s called Brian Charles Tara. He’s from West Indies and a left batsman like I am.
How successful are you in cricket?
I have made my country proud having played in two junior World Cup tournaments for the under 19’s that is in Bangladesh in 2004 and Sri Lanka in 2005. I have won Division 3 in the International Cricket Council in Australia in 2007, qualified to division 2 in Argentina in 2008 and then qualified to division 1 in Bermuda this year.
What’s with shirt 79, the number you wear?
I put on shirt 79 because I have a long admiration of England batsman called Marcus Trescothick. When we were first introduced to shirt numbers during the under 19s, he had scored 100 runs for England and ever since then, I decided to put on the same number he used to put on.
What are some of you best moments in cricket?
My best moment was playing in the Junior World Cup and turning pro.
And worst moment?
Losing. Whenever we lose, I don’t forgive myself.
What sport would you have done if you hadn’t been a cricketer?
I probably would have been a footballer or a basketballer because my brother Julius Lutwama is a basketballer at KIU Club.
What’s the difference between cricket and other sports?
Cricket is a family. It’s a way of life because you get to meet different people of different cultures and travelling to different places. It’s a feeling I can’t relate to other sports.
Thank you Arthur for your time.
Thank you too for the support.
