UBF and UPBC Agree to Work Together Under New Boxing Structure
Denis Musanje
A new dawn for Ugandan boxing was ushered in on Wednesday as the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) Interim Management Committee and the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) held a consultative meeting aimed at unifying the sport under the National Sports Act.
The meeting, held at Grand Plaza Hotel in Kampala, brought together delegates from both bodies to discuss key areas including rebuilding grassroots boxing, establishing a joint constitutional review process, defining the role of UPBC within the proposed framework, and assessing the current state of Ugandan boxing.
Under the new arrangement, Hajji Yasin Asiimwe will take over as President of UBF. He will be deputized by two Vice Presidents one in charge of amateur boxing and another for professional boxing.
Sam Rukundo will head the amateur arm, while Eddy Bazira will lead professional boxing.
UPBC President Eddy Bazira welcomed the development, saying it will go a long way in shaping the future of the sport.
“Uganda is an asset in boxing both locally and globally. This move will help us build a stronger, more organized future for our boxers,” Bazira said.
He also applauded Friends of Boxing (FOB) for empowering and uplifting boxers, citing the events in Gulu, Jinja, and the IBA Africa Elite Championships in DRC as a good testimony of their impact.
Sam Rukundo on his part expressed gratitude to FOB and the boxing community for the support through inter-club competitions, national trials, and international exposure opportunities.
“We are grateful for the great support from Friends of Boxing. From inter-club competitions to national trials and international exposure, our boxers are now getting the platform they deserve,” Rukundo said.
The meeting ended with a call for all stakeholders to embrace the UBF boxing family, with emphasis on accountability, integrity, unity, and representation as the pillars that will drive Ugandan boxing forward.