Last week, the national boxing team (Bombers) quietly returned home from the World Olympic Qualifiers that were held in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The campaign ended in disappointment as none of the boxers secured a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Team captain Joshua Tukamuhebwa was not part of the contingent that returned, and he is reportedly yet to return to Uganda, with his whereabouts unknown.
The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) has not stated why Tukamuhebwa did not travel back with the team but according to reports, the boxer fled the team camp after a sexual incident in the athletes’ accommodation.
Tukamuhebwa was reportedly caught by a coach engaging in a sexual act with another man who was not amember of the team in one of the rooms. According to one of the team members who requested anonymity, after the incident, a meeting was convened between team officials and boxers and Tukamuhebwa was stripped of the captaincy and told to relinquish his national team status. He was also told about serious disciplinary action upon return to Uganda.
With his passport confiscated that night, Tukamuhebwa was reportedly confined in his room but fled the next morning when the rest of the team had gone to watch other bouts.
How Tukamuhebwa performed at the Qualifiers
Competing in the men’s 63kg category, Tukamuhebwa had the country’s biggest hope in the qualifiers. He started the qualifying campaign by defeating Guatemala’s Edgar Garcia in the preliminary round and then beat Romania’s Robert Jitaru but fell to Jordan’s Obada Alkasbeh at the Round of 16.
If his disappearance becomes permanent, it will be a significant loss for the sport.
Tukamuhebwa debuted at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and has since featured in 10 bouts across five international competitions.