NAIROBI/KAMPALA — Ugandan businessman Shakib Cham Lutaaya scored a second-round technical knockout over Kenyan musician Arrow Bwoy on Saturday night, winning a highly publicized celebrity boxing match at the Vurugu 2 event in Nairobi and handing Uganda bragging rights in one of East Africa’s most talked-about entertainment rivalries.
The fight, staged at Nairobi’s Sarit Expo Centre and organized by Kenyan comedian and media personality Oga Obinna, drew significant attention from fans in Uganda and Kenya following weeks of social media exchanges and pre-fight publicity.
Shakib, husband to Ugandan socialite and entrepreneur Zari Hassan, dominated the contest from the opening round before forcing a stoppage in the second round.
The victory marks a dramatic comeback for Shakib, who last year suffered a second-round knockout defeat to Ugandan singer Rickman Manrick in a celebrity boxing match in Kampala.
Speaking after the fight, Shakib celebrated the victory and thanked his supporters who had backed him throughout the build-up to the bout.
The contest had generated regional interest after Arrow Bwoy publicly vowed to defeat the Ugandan businessman, while both camps traded verbal jabs online ahead of the encounter.
Arrow Bwoy’s partner, Kenyan singer Nadia Mukami, was among those ringside as the Kenyan musician suffered the defeat before a largely home crowd.
The result quickly sparked reactions on social media, with many Ugandan fans hailing Shakib’s performance as redemption following last year’s loss.
Some Kenyan celebrities, including musician KRG The Don, also praised Arrow Bwoy for stepping into the ring despite the defeat.
Celebrity boxing has become increasingly popular across East Africa, with promoters blending entertainment, social media rivalries and combat sports to attract audiences.
The Vurugu series has emerged as one of Kenya’s leading platforms for such contests.