The national boxing team, The Bombers, has amassed eight medals ― including a gold medal for Muzamir Kakande ― in the last two editions of the African Amateur Boxing Championships.

The bombers return to the championships with swagger and hope of repeating or even better, surpassing that feat.

This year’s event is slated for September 9th to 18 in Mozambique’s capital Maputo.

Six boxers that represented the country at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are joined by light heavyweight Idris Mukiibi on the team.

The seven are currently undergoing intense training at Lugogo under gaffer Patrick Lihanda, Lawrence Kalyango, Sam Kabugo and Twaibu Muyanja.

Lihanda is optimistic his boys will bank on the exposure they had in Birmingham to put up a good show in Maputo.

Bombers captain Joshua Tukamuhebwa (right) and Isaac Zebra Ssenyange Jr during training. Photo by Fred Kisekka

“We aim to sweep medals in Maputo as we have done before. We have been in training since returning from Birmingham. This means the team is fully fit and ready to go,” Lihanda told New Vision Sport.

The Bombers will be captained by light-welterweight Joshua Tukamuhebwa.

“This is our time to shine. We had a good show in Birmingham despite the games being the first major assignment for virtually the entire team. It's our time and no more excuses,” Tukamuhebwa said.

Others on the team include light flyweight Teddy Nakimuli, featherweight Jonah Kyobe, welterweight Owen Kibira, light middleweight Isaac Zebra Ssenyange Jr and middleweight Yusuf Nkobeza.

Big test

The bombers come into this year’s championships having enjoyed success at the previous two editions.

In total, they amassed eight medals from the 2015 Morocco and 2017 Congo Brazzaville editions.

Yusuf Nkobeza (left) and Idris Mukiibi spar during training under the watchful eye of Sam Kabugo. Photo by Fred Kisekka

In Casablanca, they won five bronze medals courtesy of Rogers Semitala, Fazil Juma, Hassan Abdul, Willy Kyakonye and Mike Ssekabembe.

Their best moment came at the Brazzaville games where welterweight Muzamir Kakande, bantamweight Geoffrey Kakeeto and heavyweight David Ayiti reached the finals.

Kakande won gold to end a then 13-year jinx since a Ugandan had last reached a boxing final at a major event. Kakeeto and Ayiti settled for silver.

No funding, again

It’s a familiar story of limited funds for The Bombers ahead of the championships. Like many tournaments before, they are set to depart with no funding from the National Council of Sports (NCS).

Moses Muhangi, the Uganda Boxing Federation president, says their aim was to take a full team but the federation has resorted to fielding seven boxers due to the limited resources.

“We thought we would receive our ring-fenced money as it was indicated in this financial year's budget. We wrote to NCS informing them of the championships but all in vain,” Muhangi stated.

However, Dr Patrick Ogwel, the NCS general secretary had earlier stated that the government was yet to release funds.

“We haven’t received money from the government for the first quarter of this financial year. We have been borrowing to cater for some national teams,” Ogwel said.