Have you ever been on your phone on a slow day, going through people’s posts on social media and stumbled upon those gym posts; people showing off that they are in the gym, flexing blood-pumped muscles, and the ladies showing off their waists and toned backsides?
It is not by coincidence; GymTok, or content from the gym on TikTok, is currently ranked the third highest hashtag category, and Ugandans are not known for being left behind by any trends.
This first became a trend when we had the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, and Ugandans, desperate to leave their confinement, would hit the roads to jog, exercise, etc, all with their cameras in tow.
When President Museveni eventually lifted the lockdown, those who had missed the gym, and those who had accidentally discovered the wonders of exercise during lockdown, headed to the gym.
There were those of us, of course, who went for a morning or evening run just to stay active and not lose our minds, but gave up the healthy habits as soon as we were allowed to live our normal lives again.
I gave up jogging, but these GymToks are luring me back… When it comes to new year resolutions, for many Ugandans paying membership at the gym is always in the top five of that list; everyone wants to look good, attractive and healthy, but enrolling for gym takes more than just a want.
Not only is a good gym expensive, but it also takes immense discipline to stay the course. But thanks to several corporations now adding gym memberships to health insurance as some of the perks that come with the job, more Ugandans have a health club routine, especially at the beginning of the year, when new year resolutions are fresh, and the long festive season has just ended and guilt over all that eating, is an overriding emotion.
I asked Joan Kakooza, what her routine and goals are.
“40 minutes a day, four times a week, at least,” she said. “I usually leave work at around 5pm and the thing on my mind is hit the gym.”
Many women love the aerobic and dance classes at health clubs, but they have lately discovered that strength training and weights have other benefits apart from muscle-building. Kakooza said during the Covid 19 pandemic, she gained a lot of weight, it almost messed with her mental state.
“All these uncomfortable moments really made life hard, so I hopped onto that treadmill, when the lockdown got a bit lifted; I never stopped till now,” she said as she showed off her ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures. Impressive.
James Lubowa, a well-decorated retired fitness coach, who is famous in the Kibuli area, said the norm with Ugandans is, they flood the gym the first two months of the year and by the third month, you have less than 60 per cent of the clients that you had at first.
“It’s like they are on a high that fades later on,” he said. So, what brings people to the gym in the first place? “The most common reason is weight. Some come to lose excess weight and others come to gain weight,” Lubowa said.
“Most people want to positively change their physical appearance; for the ladies it’s more about having a well-balanced and curved body. For the gents, it’s about toning the chest, arms, back and legs.”
Clearly, gone are those days of a potbelly being the sign of affluence and money; rich men now take care of their weight, too. A woman being beautifully and ‘Africanly’ curvy does not necessarily mean being ‘fat’ anymore; so, they hit the gym.
“We also have athletes who come to build stamina and strength, boxers who care about building power and endurance. The power lifters, those guys you see on TV carrying a lot of weights – yeah, those come too; we have relatively old people who come to keep their bodies active, you know, stretch, do a mile on a treadmill. So everyone has different motives,” Lubowa said.
The internet has been primarily responsible for the growth of the gym culture lately; influencers showing off what society calls attractive bodies. These physically transformed figures lure people to join the club.
And now there is also a whole fashion thingamajig surrounding a gym visit. You don’t just slap on your shorts and T-shirt. GymTok has influenced how one turns up for gym as well, especially for the women. From a mental health perspective, Alan Kamoga, a 22-year-old resident of Kibuli said working out helps with his stress management.
“You can walk inside the gym after a long day, but the moment you start your reps, and sweat, you are much different by the time you walk out.”
He recommends the health club membership for its health benefits. After the elections, the undertones of anger and frustration over the economic downturn for individuals are almost tangible. Go work out and expend that negative energy positively. Phiona, a second year student at Makerere University, is known as the gym girl.
“I joined the gym because I felt the pressure of having an attractive physique. For me it is to keep me one up from my fellow sisters who don’t go there,” she said.
And there is a gym for everyone; gyms charge anything from Shs 5,000 a day, to Shs 35,000, depending on where you go, and anywhere from USD 50 a month, to USD 300, again, depending on where you go! Just find your level and start working out. Others freely use the various hills of Kampala and beyond to jog and stay healthy and active. Just know, Ugandans are working out.
“Confidence is the thing for me; walking on campus with a body noticeably built, makes me confident,” said Mark Makumbi a third year Business Administration student.
“Being so comfortable in my skin is what I chase. I used to feel so much out of place back in high school, but know I think I can stop a lady for a conversation.”
As all lifestyles come with costs and maintenance, a gym lifestyle is no different. Peter Mwesigwa, 31, said embracing this healthy lifestyle alters everything from your diet, to screen time, alcohol intake, sleep schedule and stress levels.
“Things like going to bed late and not drinking your water all have to change,” he said.
“I work on a budget; all you need is to scout for a favourable membership, that is distance-friendly. The rest will fall into place; you don’t need millions,” Mwesigwa said.
“For effective change and transition, your discipline has to outweigh your motivation; you need to be motivated to start, but to keep going for the next six months to a full year, you are going to need to be disciplined that even on your worst days you still show up even when you don’t feel like it. To me that is what separates the people who want it, to those who actually get it. Discipline.”
If what will keep you motivated is recording every lift and burpee using a phone and ring light for your followers, then by all means throw the gadgets into a gym bag and go inconvenience those other gym users. Just get started.
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