UOC screens candidates

By James Bakama and Swalley Kenyi

Saturday: UBF elections

UGANDA Olympic Committee is doing everything within its means to ensure that this weekend’s boxing elections bring forth credible administrators.

An English proficiency test and an Interpol check are some of the requirements that contestants for executive posts are being subjected to.

A total of 17 aspirants for the various UBF positions had by yesterday been taken through the checks in an electoral process being conducted by UOC. 

Results of the tests will be released today. UOC has stressed that in its quest for quality leadership; only those that pass will contest.

Former professional boxers Godfrey Nyakana and Sam Rukundo together with Lukanga Boxing Club chairman Sam Lukanga are some of the contestants for Uganda Boxing Federation’s top job.

UOC vice president Dennis Galabuzi, who is chairing UBF’s normalisation process, explained that the tests are not a UOC invention but are contained in the federation’s new constitution.

This is the first time that a local sports body subjects its contestants to language and interpol tests. 

The move is an effort to rebrand a body that has been rocked by wrangles. Others who sat the tests and are eagerly waiting for results are former national boxing team coach Dick Katende, former UABF Secretary David Kyambadde, former team manager Kigwe Boxing Club Juliet Nyanzi and Mercy Ssenyange.

The elections will be presided over by newly elected head of the Uganda Law Society Ruth Sebatindira.

The boxing fraternity is praying that the general assembly sorts out the squabbles that have undermined the sport since 2006 when Rogers Ddungu was elected president. 

The infighting later reached unprecedented levels with the world body AIBA recognising a different executive from that endorsed by sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi.