Ugandan weightlifter found 160km from Olympic training camp after not making the team

Julius Ssekitoleko has been found by police more than 160km from the hotel room he was living in before not making the official Ugandan Olympic team.

A Ugandan weightlifter who disappeared from an Olympic training camp in Tokyo last week has been found more than 160 kilometres away.

Julius Ssekitoleko did not make his country’s Olympic squad and was due to fly back to Uganda on Tuesday (local time) but had been at large since going missing from his hotel room on Friday, the New York Times reported.

The 20-year-old reportedly didn’t show up for his daily coronavirus test and left a note in his room saying he wanted to work in Japan.

Police had been searching for him since he was discovered missing, and finally tracked him down to a home in Yokkaichi on Tuesday afternoon.

He was reportedly seen on security footage boarding a bullet train from Osaka to Nagoya where he met a man then travelled to Gifu, in central Japan.

Julius Ssekitoleko (pictured in 2018) has been found after disappearing from an Olympics training camp in Tokyo. Picture: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

When police arrived at the home in Gifu, a man told them Mr Ssekitoleko had moved to another residence in Yokkaichi City.

It was there that the athlete was found by police, carrying evidence of his identification.

Authorities were in the process of arranging for him to be deported back to Uganda.

Osaka prefectural police department official Naoki Fukuyama empathised for the athlete, who he confirmed had not technically broken any laws.

“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,” Mr. Fukuyama said, according to the publication.

“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.”

A minister in Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry was not as compassionate, labelling Mr Ssekitoleko’s behaviour as “treacherous”.

The Olympic squad moved to the Olympic village on Monday in preparation for the games.