Uganda's Mulangira becomes first woman General Secretary of Africa Boxing Union

Aug 25, 2022

Uganda’s Maureen Mulangira, the newly elected Africa Boxing Union (ABU) general secretary, will focus on restoring the glory days of professional boxing in the country.

Maureen Mulangira. Photos by Fred Kisekka

Fred Kisekka
Journalist @New Vision

She is the first woman to be elected as general secretary of the professional boxing governing body in Africa and the second Ugandan to serve in the same seat after Celestino Mindra.

Uganda’s Maureen Mulangira, the newly elected Africa Boxing Union (ABU) general secretary, will focus on restoring the glory days of professional boxing in the country.

During an ABU conversion at the ‘Victoria Falls Kingdom Hotel’ in Zimbabwe a fortnight ago, Mulangira was unanimously voted as the new ABU general secretary to become the first ever woman in that seat.

This puts her among the top three persons governing professional boxing on the continent only behind long-serving ABU president Houcine Houichi from Tunisia and South Africa’s Dr. Peter Ngatane the latter’s deputy.

Mulangira (right) was once the manager of vocal kickboxer Moses Golola

Mulangira (right) was once the manager of vocal kickboxer Moses Golola

“I’m thankful to God because who knew I could reach this far? My focus is now to help Uganda’s boxing back on top like never before,” Mulangira stated.

“We are lagging behind the front runners and I want to make sure our glory days are restored like they used to be during the times of our legends such as Justin Juuko, Ayub Kalulu, John ‘The beast’ Mugabi, Godfrey Nyakana, and others.”

Mulangira also serves as the treasurer of the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) headed by Salim Uhuru.

Before being elected as the ABU general secretary, Mulangira was also appointed as a committee member at the World Boxing Council (WBC) in charge of boxer’s rankings globally.

Mulangira whose boxing background roots date back to Kampala Boxing Club (KBC) between 1997 to 2003 as a pugilist at the national women's boxing team ‘The Lady bombers asserts that women's boxing will top her agenda.

“As a mother and a former boxer, I will also prioritize women's boxing. I want to change the perception that we cannot compete with men in the sport. We also need to start staging mega boxing events with world titles similarly to men and I will fight for this to happen,” she said.

Mulangira was part of the first national ladies' boxing team that had the likes of Irene Ssemakula and Mariam Nalukwago (rip) who won gold at the inaugural Africa Women's Boxing Championships in 2001 in Egypt.

Others included Phionah Tugume and Mercy Mukankusi, wife to the late Zebra Ssenyange.

She was once the manager of vocal kickboxer Moses Golola between 2015 and 2019.

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