The return of Muhangi in boxing leadership after two years Of Covid19

By Emmanuel Sekago

When the year 2022 started no one knew what would be happening in Uganda Boxing federation after coming back from the two year lock down due to the Covid19 pandemic.

Towards the end of January 2022, the Uganda boxing federation held its presidential elections that saw incumbent Moses Muhangi retaining the top seat unopposed.

Since David Agong who steered the said sports body between 1989 to 1999 it should be noted that Muhangi became the first Uganda boxing federation president to secure a second term in office and during his victory speech at National council of sports he called for unity and cooperation in his second term, expressed willingness to work with everyone for the good of the sport.

“Boxing as a sport needs everyone, we need to be united and stop wrangles in order to grow the sport,” said Muhangi.

In 2021, during his end of year message Muhangi said, In his return to the boxing leadership his emphasis will be on the following; Talent identification and nurturing, exposure competitions, Boxing equipment and gears, Capacity building for officials and Winning of Medals for the country.

Before even the year ended, On November 25^th 2021, Uganda boxing federation president flanked by his executive and patron at Kati Kati launched the Uganda Boxing Champions League with action started on December 4^th 2021 and is ending this Month December 26^th 2022, attracting over 180 boxers  with Juniors competing for three rounds, four rounds for the youth and five rounds for the elites and has been used as an opportunity to improve the competitiveness and readiness of boxers and talent identification.

During the launch, UBF Patron Captain Mike Mukula said Muhangi is a gift to Uganda boxing thanking him for giving the young people a career in Boxing.

Mukulas message to the boxers during the launch said, “Have discipline, please don’t use drugs because they will not give you energy but will instead destroy you.”

“Build your brands just like you have seen May weather or our own Moses Golola, we are going to stand with you shoulder to shoulder,” he added.

On July 1^st 2022, Uganda boxing champions league was boosted by Sting Energy drink who unveiled a Ugx 285m sponsorship at the Copper chimney Restaurant, Lugogo.

This year, 2022 Uganda was represented by six youthful boxers at the Commonwealth games in Birmingham, England all from the boxing champion’s league.

Teddy Nakimuli was the first female boxer to represent Uganda at the Commonwealth games and won a medal for the country, joining Juma Miiro the only Ugandan male boxer to win a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia.

We all know that Uganda boxing federation is among sports disciplines that have not been receiving government funding from the National council of sports but under the leadership of Muhangi has managed to see that boxers get exposure, even though the parliament of Uganda rings fencing there Ugx 3bn every financial year.

In May, 28^th 2022 amidst the financial challenges the team defied the odds and made a trip to Tanzania to participate in Mount Kilimanjaro boxing competition held at Benjamin Mkapa Indoor stadium winning six medals overall, 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals, with Joshua Tukamuhebwa winning gold defeating Emmanuel Katema of Zambia in Light welterweight, Yusfu Nkobeza also gold defeating Kevin Kipinge of Tanzania in Middle weight, Jonah Kyobe with gold defeating Emmanuel Marwa of Tanzania in feather weight, Kibira Owen settled for silver after losing to Shaft Mandwa of Zambia in welterweight, only female on team Teddy Nakimuli with silver after losing to Tembo Margaret of Zambia in Fly weight and Ssenyange Isaac Zebra jnr for bronze.

In June, the first ever national secondary schools boxing championship that was slated for June 18^th to 28^th 2022 in Kampala was called off by then Hon Hamson Obua state minister for sports now the government chief whip. This left UBF President Moses Muhangi not happy with the developments. Remember in this competition all the gold medal winners in each weight category for juniors, youth and elite teams were to receive a fully paid up school fees offer in their current schools for the next term and that hit a snag.

This year Uganda boxing body survived a fine that was going to be slapped on the country by the Africa Boxing Confederation body if Uganda failed to make it to Maputo, Mozambique.

This forced the UBF president to look for monies from all corners to enter a team in Africa boxing championship that attracted the elite boxers men and women from countries like; Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, DR Congo, Senegal, host Mozambique among others  in Maputo, September 8^th to 18^th 2022.

Team Uganda comprised of the following, Zebra Ssenyange Jnr, Yusufu Nkobeza, Idris Mukiibi, Owen Kibira, Jonah Kyobe, Joshua Tukamuhebwa (Captain) and Teddy Nakimu (Female).

The  Uganda team settled for two bronze medals at the Africa boxing championship with Jonah Kyobe (featherweight) lost to Sogayugue Armando of Mozambique to earn his first medal on the bombers team while Yusufu Nkobeza, in middleweight lost to experienced Gharrouni Driss with both walking away with $2500 each for winning bronze medals.

If there is any sports federation president who is very happy then just know UBF president moses muhangi is one, this year 2022 in December, the International boxing association president Umar Kremlev paid a one day visit to Uganda under the invitation of UBF and government of Uganda and being the first time in the history of the nation hosting the leadership of the international boxing body president.

The purpose of his visit was to launch the construction of the boxing academy fulfilling his promise he made to Uganda where the foundation stone of the academy was built on the 10 acres of land the Buganda Kingdom allocated to Uganda boxing federation.

During his visit, the IBA president Kremlev at the launch in Wakiso district gifted the young boxers and coaches boxing equipment to see the young ones a dream come true and is one of the missions of IBA with athletes needing to be raised inside their country.

During his visit, he had held meetings with various stakeholders like; Speaker of parliament of Uganda, Prime Minister of Buganda Kingdom, Ministry of Education and Sports officials and Minister plus representatives of National Council of sports.

Meanwhile, UBF President Moses Muhangi, with the ground breaking  of the boxing academy construction it’s a huge step towards the growth of boxing in Uganda, this will help Uganda host continental and international events and the country will benefit in many ways.