Namilyango College awards Mohammed Ali's trainer

PIC:  FUFA president Moses Magogo presents the plaque to Tom Kawere, the former national boxing team coach. (Photos/Wilfred Sanya)

When the old boys of Namilyango College met under their umbrella organization (Namilyango College Old Boys Association (NACOBA) for the inaugural awards dinner, the event was pomp and glamorous.

The event that took place at Protea Hotel in Kampala on Friday attracted alumni of the school from away back in the 1940's to current students, teaching and non-teaching staff.

The men donned in suites, others in casual smart with some proudly walking in with their spouses, did not forget to pose for pictures.

Vice President of UPC party, Joseph Bosa presents an award to the Headmaster of Namilyango College Gerald Muguluma.

 
The event's major function was awarding old boys that have made significant contributions not only to the school, but in society and country, it was also time to mingle with each other, crack jokes about their times at the school as well as discuss the future of the school, association and SACCO as 1970's and 1980's played in the background.

Some of the influential old boys that attended include; retired judge, John Bosco Katutsi, Joseph Bbosa, Vice-President, Uganda People's Congress (UPC), fraction president, Emmanuel Katongole, the Executive Chairman of Cipla Quality Chemical among others.

The six NACOBA awards were given out to six old boys that have made a difference in the school as well as country.

They winners were nominated by prominent people like the current chief justice, Bart Katureebe, Norbert Mao, Democratic Party president, Prof. Matia Mulumba, Alan Kasujja, Ugandan journalist now working on the BBC, Rev. Fr. Ivan Mukalazi,among others.
 

Professor Semakula Kiwanuka presenting an award to Prof Nelson Sewankanbo.

 
Tom Kawere, 89, the former national boxing team coach who briefly trained the late Muhammad Ali, was among the six people awarded with plaques.

Kawere who led the boxing national team between 1951-1958, got the award in the category of service to the country.

While receiving his award from the current Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president, Moses Magogo, Kawere speaking softly said: "I am so excited that I have lived long enough to see my efforts being recognized. I did not only train Muhammed Ali, the great, but also the former president, Idi Amin Dada, who once held the country's heavy weight boxing belt.

Kawere meets Mohammed Ali's
While he was the head coach of the Ugandan boxing team to the 1960 Rome Olympics, at the start of the Games, Ali, then 18 knocked at the Uganda Boxing team camp.

Ali, an American light heavy weight boxer wanted to train with a team from Africa and get to gauge their capability, because he had never fought an African.

Kawere gave him a chance, and this is how he came to train with Ugandan boxers several times during the Games with coach Kawere giving him boxing tips, a word of advice here and there.

Kawere captained the Namilyango College boxing team between 1945-49 before joining the national team he led between 1951-1958. He won a silver medal at Welter Weight category during the 1958 Empire (Commonwealth) Games in Cardiff, wales though it is alleged he was robbed of a gold medal through biased refereeing.

He also founded the Kampala Boxing Club credited with grooming a number of prominent boxers like Grace Seruwagi, Alex Odhiambo, Francis Kisekka, Bother Edwards, Ayub Kalule, John "the Beast" Mugabi.

However, there were other old boys awarded at the event.

 
Nelson Sewankambo, a professor of medicine and Principal of Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, got an award for his excellence in service/ achievement in one's calling in the Sciences, Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana, Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI, was awarded for service in society, then the school's current headmaster, Gerald Muguluma got an award for service to Namilyango College Community.

Other awardees are Prof. Austin Bukenya, a Ugandan Poet, novelist; playwright who got an award under the service/achievement in one's calling in the Arts and Humanities award and Anthony Latif, for president.

 
Fred   Gyaviira Kyaka, the president NACOBA said the awards are given to old boys who reflect the school's core values among them, honesty, integrity, innovation, respect for human dignity, and excellence and the exercise will be continuous.  

To qualify for the awards, one has to be an old student of the school, or member of the staff (former or current).

To nominate or second anyone for the NACOBA award, one has to be a duly subscribed member of the association.