When Moses Muhangi was voted into office to head Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) back in January, there was real optimism of transforming the sport in the country.
“We shall not just sit back to witness wars. It is time to work and the time is now,” Muhangi said back then.
True to his word, Muhangi and his Executive got to work and started with preparing a team of boxers for 2018 Commonwealth Games – an event where one of the five boxers (Juma Miiro) won a bronze medal.
And as new administration continues to put the sport back on track, six young boxers (Junior Bombers) – Collins Mutyaba, Reagan Musoke, John Fisher Odouch, Ukasha Matovu , Jaffer Onen and Muhammad Mazda Bunya – were sent to the 2018 Africa Junior Boxing Championship in Morocco, an event where Uganda bagged two medals.
Muhammad Mazida Bunya (Welterweight) and Reagan Musoke (Flyweight) managed to win bronze and silver respectively, and Muhangi was delighted with the feat.
“Of course these boys made us proud as the federation,” Muhangi told the Media at Lugogo flanked by the ‘Junior Bombers’.
“It had been a while since Uganda last participated in such tournaments but with all the challenges we had, our boys managed to win two medals. We promised a fundamental change, which is on now,” added the youthful administrator.
Medal winners Bunya and Musoke in the process qualified for the World Junior Championship that will be held in August in Hungary and will fight for a chance to represent Uganda in the Youth Olympics.
The rest of the young boxers still have chance of securing Olympic places with the 2018 African Youth Games in Algeria coming up from July 19-28.