Has Tugume ditched his promoter?

By Aloysius Byamukama

THE feud between kick boxer Titus Tugume and his promoter Benon Kasenene seems to have taken a turn for the worse following the kick boxer's 'mistreatment' after his non-title fight in Mbarara on Friday.

A day after the fight, Tugume charged that he was abandoned without pay after he stepped out the ring with a unanimous decision victory over Hungary's Szabo Sador Tibor at Agip Motel.

However, Kasenene of BK Promotions insists that his company had only signed what he called a "a talent development contract" with Tugume which entitles him to a monthly salary of sh900,000 on top of meeting his hotel, travel, medical insuarance and training (camp) bills. Kasenene saidd that paying Tugume after every fight was not part of the contract both parties signed two months ago.

"We are a talent development and promotion company, we are not events/fights promoters and this is the kind of contract we signed with Tugume, like the one we have with Moses Golola," Kasenene said.

Tugume had to organise his own private means of transport from the home of his brother Col. Bell Tushabe in Kafunjo, Mbarara, where he says he had run to after being abandoned by his promoters on Friday.

When asked about the contract he signed with BK, the kick boxer turned furious over the way he is being mistreated by Kasenene and BK promotions.

"How can one fight for free, this is exploitation and it has never happened, and talking of the contract, how many days did I spend treating the ankle injury I sustained without them sending me money, not even a phone call?" A furious Tugume said.

Tugume says BK has not met their contractual obligations of paying his monthly salary for two months, medical care, transport and that in case of any misunderstandings, the contract allows the parties to terminate it, which he is readily willing to do.