In the 80s and 90s, Kamala feuded with greats including Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, and The Undertaker. photo: wwe.com
Update Aug. 9, 2020 – Jim “Kamala” Harris has died. He was 70.
According to Fox 8 Cleveland, Kamala died from the coronavirus. Kamala had numerous health issues in recent years. You can read our original story below, as it first appeared in our blog section:
James “Jim” Harris is a retired professional wrestler, best known by the ring name Kamala. Born in Senatobia, Mississippi on May 28, 1950, Harris grew up in Coldwater, Mississippi.
Before becoming “The Ugandan Giant”, Harris had a difficult childhood.
His family originally owned a furniture store, which ultimately failed after his father died. Jim, his mother and four sisters were left poor and on welfare. To make ends meet, Jim found himself working the Mississippi fields as a sharecropper, along with his mother.
At age 15, Harris was nabbed by police for burglary. According to Harris, he was warned to leave town by the police. He spent his later teens and early 20s with odd jobs, including picking fruit in Florida and eventually becoming a truck driver.
By age 25, Harris caught the wrestling bug, and by 28 he was making his debut in the territories, managed by Percy Pringle aka the late great Paul Bearer.
Kamala’s Wrestling Career
Kamala was billed as the “Ugandan Giant”. Here he’s escorted to the ring by manager, “The Wizard”. photo: wwe.com
Jim Harris was living in Michigan when he met wrestler Bobo Brazil. Brazil introduced him to “Tiny” Hampton, who trained him. Harris went by the ring name of “Sugar Bear Harris” and had a low-level wrestling career in the 1970s. At first his wrestling persona was a mild, likable one. That changed when he adopted the persona of “Kamala” with the help of Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett. They believed that portraying an African wrestler and using a “wild savage” gimmick would advance his career.
Their instincts proved sound. Kamala had a long career using that persona, dubbed “The Ugandan Giant”.
From 1984 through 1993 Kamala wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation and the United States Wrestling Association. Kamala and Andre the Giant had a notable feud. Hulk Hogan and the Undertaker were other high profile opponents during Kamala’s run with the WWF.
In a mid 80s matchup, Kamala takes on Hulk Hogan. photo: wwe.com
While wrestling with the United States Wrestling Association, Kamal feuded with Jerry Lawler. He was also a four time winner of the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.
Kamala left the WWF for a second time in 1993 after missing scheduled appearances in both the 1993 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania IX. There followed two lean years when he returned to driving a truck to make a living.
Kamala hits the Undertaker with a splash. SummerSlam 1992. photo: wwe.com
Hulk Hogan brought Kamala back into wresting in 1995 when he advised Kamala to join World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was dropped from WCW within a year of joining. Failing health ultimately led to Kamala’s retirement.
Rough Road after Wrestling
The rough time that Jim Harris had in his childhood proved to continue into his adult life. His sister and niece were murdered. He has been married twice. Kamala had a difficult time in the later part of his wrestling career and he never made the kind of money that some other big name wrestlers, such as Hulk Hogan, managed to make during their careers. This became apparent when his health declined and he retired.
To get by, former WWF superstar Kamala now makes homemade wooden chairs and relies on disability checks. photo: bleacher report youtube
Sadly, Harris’ health has declined as much as his finances. Always a big guy, he gained more weight. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 1992 and the effects of the disease have rapidly progressed since his retirement. On November 7, 2011, diabetes and high blood pressure forced the amputation of the former wrestler’s left leg. In April 2012 his right leg was amputated. Kidney failure has forced him to rely on dialysis.
Harris now lives in rural Mississippi where he relies on disability and building wooden chairs to survive. He maintains communication with his fans on his Facebook page.
Kamala now confined to a wheelchair after losing both legs. photo: bleacher report youtube
Fortunately, Harris has built up goodwill in the wrestling community and online. Former wrestler Ted DiBiase told Bleacher Report, “Sometimes, the guys that look the meanest in the ring are actually nicer than anyone outside of it. That was the case with Kamala. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body.” In 2014, a GoFundMe campaign raised over $40,000 for Kamala’s medical bills.
For an excellent mini-documentary on Kamala (courtesy of Bleacher Report), check out the video below:
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