July 21, (THEWILL) – After four days of fervent search, the Ugandan weightlifter, Julius Ssekitoleko, who was reported missing in Japan ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, has been located in Yokkaichi City, in the Mie Prefecture.
The Ugandan was said to have absconded after leaving a note in his hotel room that said he wanted to seek employment in Japan. The search for him was successful, as police apprehended him about 100 miles from his team’s training camp in Osaka, Japan.
The Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying arrangements were being made for the weightlifter to return home as early as Wednesday. The statement shared via their official Twitter handle (@UgandaMFA) read:
“STATEMENT BY THE UGANDA EMBASSY IN TOKYO- JAPAN INFORMING OF THE CASE OF MISSING UGANDAN ATHLETE
“The relevant Japanese authorities are in contact with the Embassy over the matter of Mr. Julius Ssekitoleko, the Ugandan Olympics sportsman who had gone missing from the pre-Games training camp hotel in Izumisano City and has been found in Mie Prefecture.
“The Embassy is working closely with the competent Japanese authorities in Tokyo to enable Mr. Ssekitoleko continue with the hitherto arranged safe and secure return to Uganda as soon as tomorrow, 21st July, 2021.
“Any issues to do with alleged absconding from the duty he had been flown to perform in Japan and related disappearance from the training camp, will be handled appropriately upon his return to Uganda.
“The Embassy remains actively seized of the matter and will appraise any relevant interested entities as appropriate.”
When Ssekitoleko failed to qualify for the Olympic weightlifting field, a scheduled Tuesday flight back home was organised on his behalf. But, the weightlifter was declared missing after he failed to submit a COVID-19 test on Friday as arranged.
His hotel room was searched and that was how the note he purportedly left behind was discovered. In it, Ssekitoleko unveiled his intention to remain in Japan and directed Ugandan officials to ship his personal items back to his wife as he had no plans to return.
A manhunt began immediately to fish him out and the Naoki Fukuyama, an official of the Osaka Prefectural Police, revealed that they were eventually able to find surveillance footage that showed Ssekitoleko traveling from Osaka to Nagoya by train before making a stop in Gifu and then ending up in Yokkaichi, where they found him.
Fukuyama said it was a welcoming relief for the police to find the athlete: “He may be a hero in his country, but he felt it was difficult to return to the country as he learned he can’t compete in the Games.
“He must have hoped to win and bring the gold medal back to his country. I feel sorry for him. I felt relieved he was found and want to hand him over as soon as possible as many citizens are worrying.”
As Ssekitoleko travelled to Yokkaichi on a legal visa, he was considered as “not a criminal”, but the organisers will treat him as violating Olympic rules guiding the conduct of athletes.
And Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Uganda will review the “alleged absconding from the duty” by the 20-year-old weightlifter and the case will be “handled appropriately” when he returns to the country.
This is not the first competition that Ssekitoleko will be representing Uganda in. He was at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where he ended in 10th place in the finals of the men’s 56-kilogram event.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
