The International Boxing Association (IBA) president, Umar Kremlev believes Uganda can be the heart of boxing on the African continent.

He also believes that boxing in Africa can excel to higher heights especially looking at the history that many of the prominent boxers in the world like Mohammed Ali, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, and Frank Bruno have an African background.

“I dedicated this term to Africa and that is where my major priority is. World over, Uganda is known for nurturing boxing talents. It is the reason why we have decided to construct a modern boxing academy to help this talent develop,” Kremlev noted.

Kremlev who was on a one-day visit to Uganda said this at Gombe- Buganda sub-county headquarters as he visited the land where a state-of-art boxing academy will be situated. 

Buganda government donated the 10-acre land, part of the original 50-acre land that Gombe sub-county has been taking care of as custodians for the Buganda Kingdom.

Launching the academy is a big milestone for boxing in Uganda, Africa, and the Buganda government.

After the official approval of the land to the boxing fraternity, IBA is going to fulfill its pledge of 2021 to build the $5m state-of-the-art boxing academy in Uganda.

Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president Moses Muhangi has expressed joy after the success of acquiring the land from the Buganda government.

“We asked for land both from the central government and Buganda government and they have been all sourcing. I am happy that the promised project can now take place. This is not my project but shall be used by even those not yet born," he said.

"The academy shall also be a big income attraction to the country if we host international tournaments.” 

According to Muhangi, construction of this academy will commence before mid-next year.

The boxing academy will be adjacent to another 12 acres of land that the same Gombe sub-county has donated for the construction of a sports arena for the Kyadondo sub-county that shall cater to football and athletics.

The artistic impression of the complex shows facilities such as a swimming pool, an executive business hotel, a conference hall, athletes’ accommodation, a training and competition hall, administration offices, a competition arena, a sports shopping complex, a public gym, and fitness center, a medical wing and others.

The residents and area administrators in Gombe, a division III administrative area in Nansana Municipality in Wakiso district have hailed the caretakers to keep the Kabaka land intact and benefiting the whole country.

After launching the land, Kremlev headed to Parliament to meet the Speaker, Anita Among, and visited the Kingdom of Buganda at Mengo for deeper discussions.

He also met the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni before departure.

The ceremony was graced by the Africa Boxing President Bertrand Mendouga from Cameroon, his vice Nigeria’s Azania Agege, Jamal Anthony Ombok the president of Kenya boxing federation with local leaders including Kaggo of Kyadondo Ronald Bakulumpagi, Gombe Division LC III chairman Ronald Kasiriivu, Gombe Subcounty chief, Eric Serugo and several local leaders, boxing coaches and many budding boxers.