KCCA enters boxing arena

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has opened a formidable boxing club as a domain of sports development programme.

The club under the tutelage of former UABF president Vincent Byarugaba as coach started training at Lugogo gymnasium last week.

So far, seven boxers have been drafted in the payroll of the city hall authorities in what coach Byarugaba says is the nucleus of what is bound to be a great club.

"This is just a nucleus of the club. In the near future we intend to go into the youth programme," said the veteran boxer who has Khalil Hussein as his assistant.

Among those who will be drawing monthly salaries include Mohamed Kassim, bantam Nasir Bashir, welterweight Richard Semujju, middleweight Reagan Ssimbwa, light welterweight Shadir Musa Kimera and light heavyweight Dennis Mulindwa.

Boxing is the latest sport to benefit from KCCA CEO Jennifer Musisi's sports drive after soccer, volleyball, netball and basketball.

Boxing was very vibrant at city hall in the 1980s when KCC boxing club produced great boxers including the 1980 Moscow Olympic silver medallist John ‘The Beast' Mugabi, Dodovic Owiny and Charles Lubulwa.

Over the past years however, the city authorities withdrew financial support leading to the decline of standards in the sport.   

The formation of KCCA in the boxing arena possess a big challenge to the dominance of Samuel ‘Don King' Lukanga's outfit Lukanga Boxing Club.