Uganda is set to sit out from the 2023 African Boxing Championships due August 6 in Yaounde, Cameroon as the Uganda Boxing Federation endures a spell of financial constraints.
As such, the Ugandan boxers will miss out on the huge prize monies that come with the various medals; bronze, silver, and gold.
This is because the Africa Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships’ total prize money has now doubled from $500,000 in Maputo last year to $1,000,000 in this year’s edition.
In the forthcoming event, gold medallists will earn $20,000, silver $10,000, and $5,000 for the two bronze medal winners.
This is a big increment, as in Maputo, gold medallists received $10,000, silver $5000, and $2,500 for the two bronze medallists.
At the Maputo event, two Ugandans; Yusuf Nkobeza and Jonah Kyobe won bronze and $2500 (about Shs9m) each, in prize money.
Uganda Boxing Federation is going through a tough period after President, Moses Muhangi spent 13 days in Luzira Prisons.
And, despite his release on bail on May 31, the National Council of Sports (NCS) locked up UBF offices in Lugogo, over unpaid rent of Shs10m.
“It’s a matter of them (NCS) debiting our balance which they haven’t released,” Muhangi was quoted by Daily Monitor as he disagreed with the NCS decision.
In the 2022-23 financial year, the government allocated Shs3b to UBF. It was cut to Shs1b. But Muhangi insists the federation has received only Shs133m.
“But it is just days to the end of the financial year, we have not received the balance of over Shs800m, yet NCS got all the money from the government.”
While the state continues to cause alarm, Muhangi, who has constantly called out the NCS on the unfair distribution of federation funds, still faces charges of forgery and falsification.
Courtesy photos
