Powerline
Kampala, Uganda
Show StoryThe neglected rail stretching out adjacent to the on-going traffic of central Kampala is only a little less chaotic than the compressed vacant lots next to it. Sandwiched somewhere between the Queen’s Way and the forsaken train line lives energetic Ugandan children dreaming of football greatness. Numerous games of wild, kamikaze styles. A playground among iron bars. And a concealed entrance to a mysterious gym.
A minute underpass. A bustling little gateway into a residential community. Its main thoroughfare is always lively: makeshift restaurants fry salty pieces of fish and meat, adding to the smell of open drains. A crazy market life that welcomes you, then punches you in the senses.
As you travel onward, the last indication is of course the most obvious: a giant hand-painted advertisement indicating Powerline Gym, towering above a lone key cutter working away in the African sun. The hulking figure with balloon muscles seems misplaced. A farce of male form.
As you round the corner to the outside of the gym, another larger than life illustrated man admires his bulbous biceps upon a billboard. A drawn curtain hangs over the entrance. Flaps in the afternoon breeze. Groans and clanging weights echo around the tight maze of alleyways.
Opening the curtain and setting foot into Powerline Gym, the scent of sweat overwhelms you. The oppressing heat and poorly lit gymnasium is a swell of activity on late afternoons. Some of Uganda’s most powerfully built individuals strain under the mass of metal discs stacked on coarsely made benches. At the opposite side of the room, professional kick-boxers practice with such velocity that the decaying sparring bags drain of their fill.
Established in late 1995, Powerline has evolved from simple beginnings into one of Kampala’s most popular training gyms. Supporting traditional boxers and K-1 fighters under the leadership of Patrick (paddy) this establishment has become a milestone in the community for those who seek to better themselves through physical training.
This mini series of images showcases some of the unique individuals who train at Powerline but also reflect the features that make this hideout a distinct location in Kampala.
Show StoryThe neglected rail stretching out adjacent to the on-going traffic of central Kampala is only a little less chaotic than the compressed vacant lots next to it. Sandwiched somewhere between the Queen’s Way and the forsaken train line lives energetic Ugandan children dreaming of football greatness. Numerous games of wild, kamikaze styles. A playground among iron bars. And a concealed entrance to a mysterious gym.
A minute underpass. A bustling little gateway into a residential community. Its main thoroughfare is always lively: makeshift restaurants fry salty pieces of fish and meat, adding to the smell of open drains. A crazy market life that welcomes you, then punches you in the senses.
As you travel onward, the last indication is of course the most obvious: a giant hand-painted advertisement indicating Powerline Gym, towering above a lone key cutter working away in the African sun. The hulking figure with balloon muscles seems misplaced. A farce of male form.
As you round the corner to the outside of the gym, another larger than life illustrated man admires his bulbous biceps upon a billboard. A drawn curtain hangs over the entrance. Flaps in the afternoon breeze. Groans and clanging weights echo around the tight maze of alleyways.
Opening the curtain and setting foot into Powerline Gym, the scent of sweat overwhelms you. The oppressing heat and poorly lit gymnasium is a swell of activity on late afternoons. Some of Uganda’s most powerfully built individuals strain under the mass of metal discs stacked on coarsely made benches. At the opposite side of the room, professional kick-boxers practice with such velocity that the decaying sparring bags drain of their fill.
Established in late 1995, Powerline has evolved from simple beginnings into one of Kampala’s most popular training gyms. Supporting traditional boxers and K-1 fighters under the leadership of Patrick (paddy) this establishment has become a milestone in the community for those who seek to better themselves through physical training.
This mini series of images showcases some of the unique individuals who train at Powerline but also reflect the features that make this hideout a distinct location in Kampala.
