The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Head of Mobilization and Igara East Member of Parliament, Honorable Michael Mawanda Maranga, has promised full support to the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) and the Friends of Boxing initiatives.
The assurance was given on Friday at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo during the unveiling of a high-profile boxing championship featuring the Friends of Boxing Belt.
“I am here to represent the PLU National Chairman, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom the UPBC invited,” Mawanda noted in his opening remarks.
“He directed me to tell you to continue managing the sport of boxing in a professional way so that Ugandans can continue securing jobs through it. He also tasked me with fully supporting this cause, and I take this opportunity to commit to that promise.”
However, this development has left many questioning the timing, as the sport of boxing is currently embroiled in internal wrangles. The UPBC and the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) are locked in a dispute over which body holds the legal right to run professional boxing in the country.
UPBC officials maintain that their focus is strictly business and that they are not fighting any other commission. On the other hand, UBF Boss Moses Muhangi claims that the National Sports Act of 2023 mandates his federation to oversee both amateur and professional boxing.
The wrangles have persisted for over two years, placing the sport in a critical state. Both bodies are now on the verge of losing their operating licenses from the National Council of Sports (NCS) during the ongoing re-registration process.
For a while, the UPBC had been operating behind the scenes. However, they recently bounced back by announcing a partnership with Friends of Boxing (FOB), whom they have entrusted to add value to professional boxing.
Following the partnership, FOB and UPBC unveiled the new Friends of Boxing Championship belt, which will be contested across different categories and weight classes.
“Today, we have taken the responsibility of explaining our Memorandum of Understanding to the boxing fraternity,” explained Frank Mulinda, one of the officials.
“On top of that, we have unveiled our FOB Championship. Winners of each belt will pocket 6 million UGX, while the runners-up will bag 2.5 million UGX. We are doing this to make boxing more rewarding, especially for the boxers. We also look forward to seeing amateurs get opportunities that will help them transition into professionals.”
The unveiling event was attended by a relatively large number of boxers, alongside UPBC and FOB officials, promoters, legal representatives, former boxers, referees, and judges.
UPBC President Eddie Bazira and other officials praised the initiative, expressing hope that it will transform boxers’ careers, particularly regarding their financial well-being.
Meanwhile, UPBC Vice President for Technical Affairs, Abbey Mugayi, noted that they are not stopping boxers from participating in UBF fights, clarifying that their focus is strictly on business opportunities that any promoter can pursue with any boxer.
