Uganda’s National Boxing Team, the Bombers, made an impressive showing at the inaugural WBC Amateur Africa Championship, held from February 6th to 8th in Lagos, Nigeria.
The tournament featured 42 boxers from eight African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
The event, organized by Yucatesco Boxing Promotions, saw Nigeria dominate across all weight categories, but Uganda’s team still made a significant impact with six medals.
The Bombers earned a total of six medals—three silver and three bronze spread across various weight categories.
The medalists hailed from Zebra Boxing Club and COBAP Boxing Club.
Notable performances included Isaac Zebra Ssenyange Junior, who earned a bronze in the welterweight category, and Shakur Mugambe, who took home a silver in the light welterweight division.
Other medalists were Batte Nuhu (silver), Maduwa Brenda (silver), Balyejusa Benon (bronze), and Muleme Katabula (bronze).
Maduwa Brenda was the only female medalist for Uganda, securing silver in the flyweight category.
COBAP Boxing Club was particularly successful, with four medals, including two silvers from Maduwa and Nuhu, and two bronze from Denis Muleme and Benon Balyejusa in the flyweight and welterweight categories.
However, not all Ugandan competitors received medals. Moses Kimera (51kg) from COBAP and Kololo’s Fatuma Nabikolo (60kg) were placed 4th and 5th, respectively just missing out on podium finishes.
The championship was held at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, where Houcine Houichi, president of the African Boxing Union, highlighted the significance of such events in providing young boxers with invaluable international experience, which is crucial for their development, particularly as they prepare for future competitions like the World Boxing Championship in Mexico.
