Uganda’s boxing fraternity is slowly finding its footing inside and outside the ring and the six medals won at the Africa Military Boxing tournament was a bold statement.
One of Uganda’s top female boxers, Private Erina Namutebi was the highlight for Team Uganda as she finally won her first gold medal. The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier has twice missed the coveted medal but minted gold in Abuja, Nigeria.
Namutebi won silver medals at the 2023 Africa Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon and at this year’s inaugural Mandela African Boxing Cup in Durban. “It’s such a good feeling, this one has opened the way for more gold medals,” she told the media.
Light-flyweight Ochan Geoffrey, featherweight Joyce Kugonza and light-welterweight Innocent Amoko also won gold medals. Still, with winners, bantamweight Japyem James and cruiserweight Jamidali Adam settled for silver medals.
“Congratulations to the Uganda Boxing team in the second African Military Games. Boxing is back to our winning ways since 1950,” Uganda Boxing Federation President Moses Muhangi bragged.
With more media visibility, both mainstream and social, the once-number-one sports discipline in the country is on the right path to regain its past glory back home and on the continent.
Inside the Pearl of Africa, the Uganda Boxing Champions League is trending thanks to monthly action that has given birth to new boxing faces, and the inclusion of corporate boxing, which attracts socialites and celebrities.
