Warring UABF factions agree to forget reconcile

By James Bakama

 FOR the first time in a long time, a meeting of warring UABF factions didn’t end in blows.

The factions on Saturday agreed to bury the hatchet and forge a way forward in a federation that has for years been torn in wrangles.

Issa Kikungwe, representing the Godfrey Nyakana group and the other faction led by David Kyambadde resolved to immediately embark on a healing process.

The factions in a stakeholders meeting called by National Council of Sports, for starters endorsed an AIBA normalisation roadmap.

The world amateur body last year handed the mandate of running local amateur boxing to Uganda Olympic Committee. It also called for a constitutional review involving the factions, NCS, a lawyer and UOC.

The new spirit was partly a result of a strongly worded AIBA communication reminding the Nyakana faction that there is no recognised federation in Uganda.

Nyakana’s executive had through its legal committee head Kenneth Gimoko written to AIBA questioning its powers in enforcing its statutes.

AIBA replied stressing that this faction was masquerading as a national body.

“As there is no fully recognized federation in Uganda, AIBA does not correspond with anyone of the two entities pretending to run boxing in this country,” reads the January 12 reply from AIBA director of external relations Patricia Steulet.

AIBA accordingly advised Nyakana’s group to consult with UOC boss Roger Ddungu on any UABF matters.

“Reconciliation is paramount before we go into the constitution making process. Each side has to surrender something if we are to progress,” noted Kikungwe after Kyambadde read the two letters to the very attentive meeting.

An earlier meeting by the Nyakana faction that had passed another constitution was described by many stakeholders as not only diversionary, but also placing Uganda on a path of an AIBA ban.

“This is tantamount to a parallel body that in AIBA statutes is punishable with a ban,” explained Kyambadde.

NCS official Charles Egou who chaired the meeting promised to work jointly with UOC to constitute the constitutional review committee.

Retired boxer Charles Kizza was of the view a lot of time need not be wasted in the constitutional process.

“We are all aware that all that has to be addressed are simply the article on affiliation fees and the one on exclusion of professionals. Amicably deal with these, and there will be harmony.”