Mulangira takes charge of pro boxing reforms in Uganda

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From leading Uganda’s first-ever women’s boxing team to becoming the first female general secretary of the Africa Boxing Union (ABU) and securing a seat on the World Boxing Council (WBC), Maureen Mulangira’s dedication to the sport is unmatched.

Nicknamed ‘Maama Bikonde’—a Luganda phrase meaning ‘Mother of Boxing’—Mulangira, a professional nurse trained at Mulago School of Midwifery, abandoned her medical career to pursue her passion for boxing. Over the past 28 years, she has served in various capacities, shaping the sport both locally and internationally.

Her latest challenge is leading the newly formed Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) Professional Boxing Licensing Committee, a body set to replace the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) in overseeing the sport.

Mulangira’s appointment as chairperson of the committee was confirmed on February 13, 2025, by UBF president Moses Muhangi. Notably, Muhangi also appointed her deputy, Hussein Babu—a journalist-turned-boxing-promoter—after poaching both from the UPBC, an organisation UBF has been at odds with since 2021.

The committee also includes Philip Munaabi as general secretary, a role he similarly holds at the Uganda Law Society. Former ABU champion Abdul Tebazaalwa and Nicholas Bbuule—widely regarded as Muhangi’s ‘foot soldiers’—complete the team.

Transforming professional boxing

In an interview with Vision Sport, Mulangira outlined her ambitious plan to professionalise and streamline Uganda’s boxing sector, eliminating opportunists and restoring the sport to its former glory.

"I have joined UBF for serious business. My decision to team up with Muhangi aims to clean professional boxing for us to match international standards."

"The good thing is that we are now operating under the new Sports Act, which intends to develop Ugandan sport."

While her move to UBF has not been well received by UPBC, Muhangi’s allies have hailed her appointment as a game-changer.

According to Muhangi, Mulangira’s involvement marks a significant step in aligning Ugandan boxing with the 2023 National Sports Act.

"Maureen is best known for professionalism and aggressiveness. We expect her to deliver at her fullest," said Muhangi.

A legacy like no other

Mulangira was part of Uganda’s pioneering women’s boxing team, The She Bombers, in 1997. That squad included the likes of Irene Semakula, now a WBC-certified boxing referee, and the late Mariam Nalubega, who won Uganda’s first gold medals at the 2001 African Women’s Boxing Championship in Cairo.

Before joining UBF, Mulangira was a long-serving member of UPBC. She started in 2007 as secretary for women’s affairs before being elected treasurer in 2018, a position she held until she fell out with then-president Salim Uhuru, who has since stepped down.

In 2018, she was elected general secretary of the ABU—the first woman to hold the position, which she still occupies today. A year later, the WBC appointed her to its board as a member in charge of boxers' rankings, cementing her influence on the global boxing stage.

Through her Inter-Sport International Boxing Promotions, Mulangira has managed several high-profile fighters, including Sulaiman ‘The Ruler’ Segawa, a former WBC Silver Featherweight champion, and former ABU lightweight champion Edward ‘Messiah’ Kakembo. She also managed Uganda’s most famous kickboxer, Moses Golola, between 2014 and 2023.

Maureen Mulangira (left) has once been motor mouthed kickboxer Moses Golola's manager for nine years. (PHOTO BY FRED KISEKKA)

Mulangira is confident that her vast experience and global connections will help restore Uganda’s professional boxing to its former status.

"My experience and exposure will help me drive pro boxing to the next level. I have liaised with many world champions like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oleksandr Usyk, Amir Khan—you name them."