Uganda will take only eight boxers to this year’s All Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco due August 16-30 and the number of slots has left UBF dissatisfied.
According to Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) President Moses Muhangi, they were given only ten (10) slots of which two (2) are for team officials which limits their chances of winning medals at the continental showpiece.
“With ten slots allocated, we are taking a half team of eight boxers and two officials. Other sports take full teams but boxing that has brought Uganda most medals cannot take a full which is absurd. This affects our rankings and downplays the efforts we put in to scout and sharpen these talents. Many people think boxing is an individual sport which is wrong. Boxing is a team event like football where an individual is awarded and the team wins overall accolade,” explained Muhangi after the federation named a team of six male and two female boxers for the Games.
UBF has had 25 boxers in camp for months at Luzira prisons and Muhangi believes that having such a number in camp and only take eight is wasteful of the meager resources at hand and also de-motivates the boxers.
The Bombers team will be captained by Shadir Musa Bwogi, who hopes that despite the challenges, they will come back with medals. Muhangi also promised the boxers Shs1m for each medal.
Experienced AIBA Star 2 coach Meddie Hassan Mulandi will lead the team, assisted by Mercy Mukankuzi. Mulandi was in charge of the Bombers team in 2016 as Uganda returned home with three (one Gold and two Silver) from the Africa boxing championship held in Congo Brazzaville.
Muzamir Kakande’s medal was the first Gold medal from a major boxing championship in 13 years since Jolly Katongole (Light fly) won the African 2004 Olympic qualifying tournament.
Team Uganda is under Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and the central coordinating body although the government through National Council of Sports (NCS) entirely funds the continent.
About 115 members (athletes and officials) will comprise of Team Uganda which will go in batches on August 16 and August 22. The All Africa Games however are not a qualifier tournament for boxing to Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Bombers team
Men
Champion Busingye – Light fly (49kg)
Masembe Isaac –Bantam (56Kg)
Tukamuhebwa Joshua -Light weight (60kg)
Geko Solomon -Super heavy weight (91kg)
Shadir Musa Bwogi – Welterweight (69kg)
Kavuma David Semujju – Middle weight (75kg)
Women
Baleke Hellen -Middle weight (75kg)
Nalia Jalia -Bantam (56kg)
Officials:
Head coach -Meddie Mulandi
Assistant -Mukankusi Mercy
