Former Uganda body building champion Ivan Byekwaso is reportedly dead.
While full details of his death are yet to be known, Byekwaso who was in 2015 named Mr. Universe by the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) is said to have died Wednesday at the age of 41, in Germany where he relocated.
Before he left the country, Byekwaso had been crowned Mr Uganda on five occasions.
He hit interstellar heights when he won the INBA World Cup and Natural Universe crowns in 2015. With the crazy cash of his maverick sponsor Jack Pemba, Byekwaso enjoyed as much publicity as bigger sporting brands like the Uganda Cranes and eclipsed the likes of Moses Golola.
Deservedly, Byekwaso enjoyed hero’s welcomes, his motorcades stalling Entebbe Road traffic and in Kampala City. He jumped from one victory party to another.
By the dawn of 2016, all the pomp and good life had vanished when Pemba, the sponsor, and Byekwaso, the beneficiary, fell out.
READ HIS LIFE STORY HERE: Ivan Byekwaso’s long walk to stardom
Ahead of the 2016 INBA World Championships, Byekwaso trod his old path, passing the basket begging for sponsorship.
When he finally flew to Budapest, he was never to return.
In November, Byekwaso represented Bavaria in Germany qualifiers for the 2017 IFBB European Championship. Competing in the Men’s Class 2, the Munich-based Byekwaso finished fourth among 12 to book the ticket.