Uganda Dispatch Overview
Uganda Dispatch Overview
📅 Dispatch Date
April 18, 2023
🏛 Dispatching Organizations
Kukkiwon / Government of the Republic of Korea
🛠 Main Duties
• Conducting Taekwondo classes and promoting the program at Makerere University
• Providing Taekwondo training for UPDF military police cadets
• Coaching local youth and elite athletes
• Collaborating with the Uganda Taekwondo Federation (UTF) and the Uganda National Olympic Committee (UNOC)
• Developing local instructors through the ODA training program
• Running rehabilitation and character education programs in correctional facilities
• Organizing regional tournaments, promotion tests, and referee training
Overview of Dispatch to Uganda
Uganda Dispatch Overview
📅 Dispatch Date
April 18, 2023
🏛 Dispatching Organizations
Kukkiwon / Government of the Republic of Korea
🛠 Main Duties
• Conducting Taekwondo classes and promoting the program at Makerere University
• Providing Taekwondo training for UPDF military police cadets
• Coaching local youth and elite athletes
• Collaborating with the Uganda Taekwondo Federation (UTF) and the Uganda National Olympic Committee (UNOC)
• Developing local instructors through the ODA training program
• Running rehabilitation and character education programs in correctional facilities
• Organizing regional tournaments, promotion tests, and referee training
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Summary of Activities
Grandmaster Kim was officially appointed as a government-dispatched Taekwondo master to Uganda by Kukkiwon and the Government of the Republic of Korea on April 18, 2023.
He is currently promoting authentic Kukkiwon Taekwondo at Makerere University, within the UPDF military police, and at Kasubi Prison—training youth, soldiers, leaders, and university students. His teaching emphasizes character, responsibility, and a strong sense of community.
Through active collaboration with the Uganda Taekwondo Federation (UTF) and the Uganda National Olympic Committee (UNOC), he is also contributing to the development of Taekwondo administration, instructor training, tournament organization, and international training programs.
UPDF Taekwondo Training Program
Nationwide Taekwondo Master Training and Dissemination Project for the Uganda Armed Forces
Makerere University Taekwondo Center
Taekwondo Training Program for University Students and the General Public
UPDF Taekwondo Training Program
Infusing the Spirit of Taekwondo into the Duty of a Soldier
In August 2023, a full-scale Taekwondo training program began for the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).
This was more than a martial arts course — it was a mission-driven training designed to instill the values of Taekwondo into the duty, discipline, and mindset of Ugandan soldiers.
On September 7 of the same year, the program was officially launched with the opening ceremony of the Makerere University Taekwondo Classroom.
The first group consisted of 13 military personnel: 5 military police officers, 5 special forces soldiers, and 3 intelligence service members.
After one year of dedicated training, 12 participants successfully passed the Kukkiwon black belt test in 2024 and were awarded official certification.
The second training phase began on November 25, 2024, with 19 new participants, all from the military police.
The program is still ongoing.
UPDF Taekwondo strengthens military discipline in Uganda through the spirit of Korean martial arts.
Through mental discipline and character education, it helps soldiers carry out their duties with integrity and responsibility.
The training is built on the core values of discipline, honor, and honesty.
Partner Organizations & Instructor Development
Grandmaster Kim goes beyond daily instruction, focusing on developing local Taekwondo instructors and establishing a strong institutional foundation in Uganda.
He personally awarded Kukkiwon black belt certificates to the president of the Uganda Taekwondo Federation (UTF), ensuring the continuation of authentic Kukkiwon Taekwondo values in the country.
He also had the opportunity to meet with the president of the Uganda National Olympic Committee (UNOC) to present the educational value of Taekwondo and the potential for international cooperation.
Through Grandmaster Kim’s recommendation, four Ugandan instructors were selected to participate in the Kukkiwon ODA Global Master Training Program.
Among them, three became the first officially certified instructors in Ugandan Taekwondo history.
This marked a historic turning point for Taekwondo in Uganda.
Regular training and instructor education are still ongoing, and plans are in place to expand these opportunities even further in the future.
The Path to Establishing Local Taekwondo
The Uganda Taekwondo Federation, in cooperation with Kukkiwon, has been actively promoting the spirit and training culture of Taekwondo throughout the country.
We work closely with the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), Makerere University, Luzira Prison, Uganda Police, and CSCA, reaching soldiers, university students, youth, and community leaders.
Through systematic training, leadership development, and cultural exchange, we strive to spread the true values of Taekwondo and cultivate upright character across Ugandan society.
In addition, Grandmaster Kimsabu (8th Dan Kukkiwon / 1st Class International Master), dispatched by Kukkiwon as a government-appointed Master in 2023, has been contributing to the development of Taekwondo in Uganda through promotion tests, competitions, Taekwondo seminars, and regional education programs in cooperation with various institutions.
The Federation organizes regular promotion tests, championships, seminars, and demonstrations, raising the status of Ugandan Taekwondo and serving as a bridge to the global Taekwondo community.
In particular, three Ugandan instructors successfully participated in the Kukkiwon Global Master Program (ODA) in 2023 and 2024, earning their International Taekwondo Master certification.
This achievement highlights both the international recognition and the remarkable growth of Ugandan Taekwondo leaders.
🌍 50 Years of History — and a New Beginning
Taekwondo in Uganda began in 1969 under the instruction of Master Kim Nam-seok, and over the past half-century, it has steadily taken root and grown.
At last, under the leadership of Grandmaster Kim Kwangjoo, three local instructors officially earned Kukkiwon certification—marking the first time in Ugandan history that native Taekwondo masters have been formally recognized.
This is more than just an educational milestone; it is a historic turning point toward self-reliance and institutionalization for Ugandan Taekwondo, laying a solid foundation for the next generation.
Grandmaster Kim continues to build upon this legacy—nurturing the future of Taekwondo in Uganda through authentic Taekwondo spirit, character education, and the training of future leaders.
Makerere University Taekwondo Center
"Taekwondo That Builds Inner Balance and Transforms Lives"
The Makerere University Taekwondo Classroom officially opened on September 12, 2023, as Uganda’s first formal Taekwondo program.
Under the guidance of Grandmaster Kim Kwangjoo, dispatched by Kukkiwon and the government of the Republic of Korea, this is more than just a physical education course — it is a place where students cultivate character, responsibility, and a spirit of community.
Regular training sessions are held every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoon for university students. Through Taekwondo, they learn to balance body and mind, and to develop a disciplined and upright attitude toward life.
Students also have the opportunity to earn official Kukkiwon black belt certification through annual promotion tests, which serve as meaningful milestones of growth and pride.
Makerere University Taekwondo is a space where martial arts and academia, philosophy and action, come together.
Those who train here will grow into strong and upright leaders for the future of Ugandan society.
