IBA President Kremlev to jet in Uganda on Friday

By Emmanuel Sekago

The International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev is expected in the country next week on Friday 25th, November, 2022.

Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) President Moses Muhangi talking to WallnetNews website confirmed that Kremlev will be in the country next week on Friday, November 25th 2002 and will touch down at Entebbe international airport at 11am.

During his visit he will grace the UBF Novice Boxing championship to be in Lugogo MTN arena, meet the First Lady and minister for education and sports, state minister for sports, Uganda Olympic Committee President, Buganda Kingdom, National Council of Sports, visit some of the boxing clubs, meet UBF executive and also grace the ground breaking of the construction of a multi-purpose sports facility.

The Federation President Moses Muhangi, on Thursday said that the Buganda Kingdom allocated the Uganda Boxing federation 10 acres for the construction of the multi-purpose sports facility.

It should be noted that On September 13th, 2021, President Museveni directed the chairperson of Uganda Land Commission by then Beatrice Nyakaisiki in writing to identify and allocate the Uganda Boxing Federation at least 10 acres of land for the construction of an amateur boxing facility.

“The President of the Uganda Boxing Federation appealed to me for allocation of the government land to the Federation. The Federation intends to partner with the International Boxing Association to construct a state of the art academy,” reads Museveni’s letter in part.

Adding that: “Since Government has always supported the development of sports. You should identify and allocate at least 10 acres within a radius of 30 miles from Kampala to them. However, clear covenants should be included in their lease agreement so that the government can repossess the land if they are unable to develop it within a given period. You should work with the Ministry of Education and Sports on the matter.”

Museveni’s letter was in response to Muhangi’s appeal to the government to allocate them land to set up an international multi-purpose facility for boxing worth US$5m donated by the International Boxing Association- IBA, which tasked the federation to find suitable land to host the facility.

Since the president’s directive, UBF has never received the land even the ministry of education and sports wrote to them, but they have never called on UBF President Muhangi.

Remember the Federation earlier approached the Buganda Kingdom for an alternative due to the delayed compliance of the Uganda Land Commission. And thanks to the kingdom who have already offered them land for the facility.

The facility is planned to be full-sized and equipped so that all potential boxers, officials and other stakeholders have access to its facilities; it will also have an academy that will provide core and supporting programs to cover key areas and components: development courses for athletes, coaches, R&J, sport and competition managers.

Meanwhile, IBA President Umar Kremlev said earlier that the boxing academy in Uganda will establish the best practice standards related to techniques and sciences in the overall development of boxing. “It will aim to grant holistic support and boxing programs for anyone who has an interest in sports and boxing in general,” he said.

The facility has come as a relief and a game-changer for Uganda’s sports industry as it will create another option of an indoor stadium in the country. Uganda only relies on the MTN Indoor Arena in Lugogo. The other option is the incomplete Makerere University Arena in Makerere University.