When he was a child, Godfrey Baguma was scared to go out and mix with people because they would say he looked like a “strange creature”.
A UGANDAN man has become an unlikely pop sensation after winning an event to find the country’s most unusual looking man.
Godfrey Baguma, 47, a cobbler from Kyanzana, became was thrust into the limelight for his severely deformed head.
Now, his status as a local celebrity has led him to a career in African pop music with his music videos racking up 3,000,000 views on YouTube.
But the singer’s mystery condition has never been diagnosed and he was fearful he would pass it onto 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.”
After Godfrey’s health began declining, Tony Wilson, head of medicine at Mbarara Hospital in the western region of Uganda, decided to carry out tests to diagnose him.
Dr 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 Dr Wilson, Godfrey received the full examination he had always hoped for.
He was diagnosed with 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.
Godfrey added: “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.”
Despite his unusual looks, Godfrey is not the only man in the world living with a severely deformed head.
Meet the two-year-old with a heartbreaking condition that means he will never be able to give his mum a grin
After 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 was just 10-years-old when he noticed an abnormal swelling in his cheek.
Despite facing endless taunts about his face when growing up, Godfrey’s successful music career has propelled him into a life of popularity.
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 before that marriage ended.
Then, eight years ago, he met the love of his life, Namande Kate, and has had six more 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 is featured in Body Bizarre this Thursday, October 27th.
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