Julius Ssekitoleko, a Ugandan weightlifter who absconded from his Olympics camp in Tokyo, Japan, has been deported from Japan three days after being found by the Japanese police.
The 20-year-old weightlifter had disappeared after failing to appear for a Covid-19 test last Friday.
Julius Ssekitoleko, who recently won the bronze medal at the African Weightlifting Championships, was on a waiting list for the Olympics but recently lost all hope of participating due to Olympic quotas.
After a failed escape from the Olympics camp, the athlete arrived in his home country on Friday accompanied by an official from Japan.
Upon his arrival at his home country, the athlete was received by his family members and officials from the Ugandan ministry of education and sports, according to a local platform, Kawowo Sports.
His mother, Juliet Nalwadda; spouse, Desire Nampeewo; and aunt, Pauline Nakasagga, were the family members that received him at the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.
“My son left with the hope of winning an Olympic medal. Since 12 years, he has also been into sports as he first played rugby before switching to weightlifting. We appeal to Government to forgive him for any wrongdoing and also assist us since the wife is due to give birth and they were recently sent away from the family house because of accumulated rent arrears,” a teary Nalwadda disclosed.
