A few days ago, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) released the final list of the national boxing team (Bombers) set to represent Uganda at the continental qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics due next month in Dakar, Senegal.
The list of nine boxers comprised of Shadir Musa Bwogi (80 kgs) and David Ssemujju (63.5 kgs), the duo that fell out with Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) administration led by Moses Muhangi after failing to agree to terms of the Boxing Champions League. They later joined professional ranks.
However, it was reported that UBF had their own list of the team for the Olympic qualifier event and it didn’t have the duo in question in it and UOC’s decision to reinstate them back to the team has left UBF unhappy.
According to UBF President Moses Muhangi, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave UOC mandate to register boxers incase the local national federation refused to recommend boxers for registration. However, they (UBF) recommended boxers but UOC didn’t honor their list after they included the duo in question in the squad.
In a letter addressed to UOC, UBF’s Muhangi has distanced himself from the upcoming event and has left major matters in the hands of UOC and National Council of Sports accusing the local NOC of disregarding their Bombers list. This comes after the federation held an extra ordinary meeting to address the issue.
“UOC had disregarded our long list and preferred to handpick those it had interest in and register them for the Boxing Olympic Qualifiers,” part of the missive read adding that UOC went ahead and registered Shadir and Ssemujju whose names were never part of the long list that was initially provided to them.
“I also would like to bring to your attention that myself as Moses Muhangi will be engaged in other pressing issues and I won’t be able to travel with the team as Team Manager,” Muhangi in his missive said adding that he has surrendered his role to the federation’s General Secretary, Simon Barigo adding that he’s not comfortable leading a team that was not selected according to their approved National Team Selection Policy.
Meanwhile, Joshua Tukamuhebwa (63.5 kg) who recently captained Bombers at the Africa Boxing Championships is in the team for the Olympic qualifier.
Matovu Ukasha (71kgs) is registered as a reserve alongside Shadir and Ssemujju. Kyobe Jonah (57kgs), Mawanda Fathia Shafik (51kgs), Mukiibi Idriss (80kgs), Ssenyange Isaac Zebra (71kgs) are also named on the team. Grace Nankinga (50kgs) is the only female boxer on the team that initially had 11 officials.
