Bukenya confident of joining Bombers

By Shafik Ssenoga

1st National trials

Youth (17-18yrs)

Light flyweight

B. Lwanga (Katwe) bt C. Busingye (Kavuma) 3-0

Bantamweight

G. Kakeeto (UPDF) bt C. Matovu (Police) 2-1

Lightweight

M. Mukiibi (Kololo) bt R. Mugisha (Police) 2-1

Middleweight

R. Ssimbwa (East Coast) bt E. Alloy (East Coast) 3-0

Elite men (19-40yrs)

Light flyweight

J. Kalema (COBAP) bt U. Mutebi (KCCA) 2-1

Flyweight

R. Semitala (Cobap) bt B. Wasswa (Kampala) TKO

M. Kassim (East Coast) bt G. Mubiru (Kololo) 3-0

Welterweight

N. Bukenya (UPDF) bt S. Wandera (Police) 3-0

Lightweight

B. Asiya (East coast) bt G. Aliga (Scorpion) 3-0

SEASONED boxer Nasser Bukenya is optimistic that that he can win a gold or silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year if he is handed the chance to join the national team ‘The Bombers’. 

Bukenya made these remarks after beating fellow veteran Simon Wandera at the first national boxing trials at Lugogo on Saturday. 

Bukenya who was one of boxing’s leading lights four years ago, proved to be a handful as he kept his opponent on the back foot throughout the contest. 

Following the success, Bukenya claimed he still had a chance to join the national team.

“I am training really hard to see that coaches can include me on the team that will represent the country in Glasgow,” Bukenya stated.

Bukenya is one of the few Ugandan boxers who won gold at the East African Inter-Cities Boxing Championships held in Kampala in 2011.   

When contacted, Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) publicity secretary Fred Kavuma revealed that; “It was a good start since the boxers have shown that they have been training hard.”

Kavuma added that the federation intends to have the best boxers joining the senior and U18 teams.

The second national trials will be held on Easter Monday at Aero beach, Entebbe.

The chosen boxers will represent Uganda at the Commonwealth Games and the Africa Youth Games in Botswana in May.