UBF, Buganda forge partnership to promote boxing

Buganda kingdom says it is ready to work with any federation or association so as to promote sports in the country.

The kingdom has been at the frontline of developing different sports disciplines such as football and volleyball, and they're ready to do the same with other sports.

This was revealed by Buganda's minister of sports, leisure, and recreation, Henry Ssekabembe, as he hosted the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president Moses Muhangi at Bulange, Mengo with a view of a working relationship to revive the sport in the kingdom.

"I'm honoured to host the president of UBF and the reason he came here is to form a working relationship between the kingdom and federation. If you are to consult history, boxing is an important sport not only in the country but also in the kingdom. We are committed to working with the federation since Buganda has in the past produced prominent boxers. As a kingdom, we are ready to work with the federation to promote the sport," stated Ssekabembe.

He advised UBF to continue spreading the sport in schools since it is the genesis of its growth.

"Boxing should go back to the schools. What killed it is that many schools thought the sport was built on indiscipline. But that is not the case now since it is one of the sports that has lifted the country in terms of winning medals," he added.

He also cautioned UBF that the sport has to have a business sense if it is to prosper.

"You can hardly organise a sport discipline if it has no business sense. A federation with working structures and systems will also see the game develop. I want to thank UBF for being committed to the development of sport rather than concentrating on petty fights which kill the federation and sport," Ssekabembe noted.

UBF was supposed to organise inter-kingdom and inter-region competitions this year but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is not yet known if they will take place.

In his remarks, UBF president Moses Muhangi hailed the Buganda kingdom for promoting sports.

"I'm happy that we were called upon to see that boxing in the kingdom is revived. Remember that the sport has taken time without being played in the kingdom but that was because of unclear reasons from the previous leadership at the federation. The federation at that time did not come out with a clear explanation to its stakeholders including Buganda so that the sport continues to be played," revealed Muhangi.

"This time, we have a relationship with the kingdom to revive the sport. We call upon other kingdoms to also take a step like Buganda so as we take the sport to the next level. We would not have organised tournaments like inter-kingdoms without meeting those in charge. This is a good initiative and I believe we shall benefit from it," he added.

With this budding relationship between both parties, expect the Bika boxing competition to be revived along with the introduction of the Masaza boxing competition.