Meet Uganda’s most unusual looking man

After winning an event to find Uganda’s most unusual looking man, Godfrey Baguma was thrust into the limelight for his severely deformed head. The 47-year-old cobbler from Kyanzana, Uganda, became a local celebrity for his unique looks, which lead him to have a career in African pop music But the singer’s mystery condition had never […]

After winning an event to find Uganda’s most unusual looking man, Godfrey Baguma was thrust into the limelight for his severely deformed head.
The 47-year-old cobbler from Kyanzana, Uganda, became a local celebrity for his unique looks, which lead him to have a career in African pop music
But the singer’s mystery condition had never been diagnosed – and he was always fearful he may have passed it on to his eight children.
He said: Right now I am afraid because I have a little daughter who kind of resembles me. I look at her head and I believe that she might look like me.
“Sometimes I worry because my children are still very young. I worry about what would happen to them if I died. I think about that a lot now.”
And with Godfrey’s health recently declining Doctor Tony Wilson – the head of medicine at Mbarara Hospital – decided to carry out tests to diagnose him.
Doctor Wilson said: “He has very widespread abnormality in his head and pressing on various parts of his brain.
“His posture is compressing his chest – this is why he’s not breathing well.”
Six weeks after an MRI scan with Doctor Wilson, Godfrey received the full examination he had always hoped for.  
He suffers from a rare condition called Fibrodysplasia – which affects the growth and placement of his cells and tissue.
With the correct medication, Godfrey’s health can be managed and better still – he cannot pass the disease down to his children.
He said: I was so worried that the doctor wanted to operate on me. I feel glad that he just told me about my condition.
“I feel so good and I have learned that I am a human being.”
With a difficult start in life, this was music to Godfrey’s ears.
He said: “When I was born my mother looked at me and said that I was not a normal child and she left me. Thankfully my grandmother took care of me.
“I was scared to go out and mix with people. People would say I wasn’t a human being, that I looked like a strange creature.
“But now I have to accept how I look.”
Godfrey noticed the abnormal swelling to his cheek when he was just 10 years old and has always wondered what caused his problems in the first place.
Despite facing endless taunts about his face when growing up, Godfrey has formed a successful career as a pop star in Uganda with his music videos racking up 3,000,000 views on YouTube.
He said: “I was mending my shoes and a man who worked in entertainment asked me to take part in a show.
“Now I’ve got friends. People call me to go to their shows and give me money.
“It helps me take care of my children.”
Godfrey had two children with his first wife and unfortunately this marriage did not end happily.
But eight years ago, he was lucky enough to meet the love of his life, Namande Kate, and has had a further six children with her.
Namande said: “Godfrey’s not handsome on the outside, but he has a good heart.
“I wish people would see him the way I see him.”
Godfrey’s story was featured in Body Bizarre last Thursday on TLC.

Culled from Sundayworld.com