After taking the first step into implementing the minister’s resolutions to streamline the transition of amateur and professional boxing arms into one federation, Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) seek consistent protection and guidance from all the necessary government offices.
This follows a letter from National Council of Sports in April that gave Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) exclusive authority to oversee all boxing activities in Uganda. To UPBC, that letter contradicts the guidelines and resolutions issued by sports minister Peter Ogwang after a meeting with UPBC and UBF on February 27.
The minister’s resolutions implored both sides to forge a pathway leading to one body governing boxing, as the National Sports Act 2023 stipulates. These included: ensuring that UBF completes the registration as an association under the National Sports Act by June 7; transition into a federation that incorporates amateur and professional aspects; ensuring that UPBC registers under UBF in order to participate in leadership and governance of the sport and ensuring that UBF membership includes representatives from UPBC and other stakeholders.
Against that background, UPBC invited UBF to a stakeholders meeting at Copper Chimney Restaurant on May 22 but UBF did not turn up. And their response renders all the minister’s recommendations irrelevant.
For instance: ‘These matters are being handled by NCS, the regulator. For your information Uganda Boxing Federation submitted its application to the NCS on 20th June 2025, since then many engagements are ongoing between the UBF and NCS regarding the application,’ a May 14 letter by UBF president Moses Muhangi, read in part.
‘It is not provided for anywhere; neither in the UBF constitution nor in the National Sports Act, Cap 151 that once a Sports Body has submitted its application to the NCS, that the same can be subjected to a third-party discussion thereafter, or that it can be withdrawn and or resubmitted for consideration by the NCS. What is provided for in the Sports Act Cap 151 is that the application can be upheld by the NCS or rejected and in case of a rejection the applicant can appeal to the Minister. For this we decline to meet with you to discuss resolutions 1.1’
That rigidity and unwillingness to cooperate was evident in the entire UBF response, which UPBC president Eddie Bazira called mere excuses.
‘Many of our stakeholders-boxers, promoters, trainers-who are affected by this standoff are on our side. They are no longer in business, and it is incumbent on us to ensure that we solve this impasse so that everyone returns to business,’ Bazira said at the meeting.
‘That is why we I plead to the chairman and secretary general of the NCS to guide us in this struggle to incorporate all boxing stakeholders and all their constructive interests for the good of the sport.’
However, Muhangi has always faulted UPBC for dodging the stakeholder meetings UBF hosted last year.
Start afresh
Peter Lubulwa, the head of the UPBC legal committee, said NCS was wrong to give UBF mandate over professional boxing.
He said Members of Parliament, who framed the new Sports Act did not consider the uniqueness in boxing that the amateur and professional aspects are different.
‘That said, there’s room for change. We must start with UBF voting for a new executive according to the 2013 UBF Constitution, the only one recognised by NCS,’ Lubulwa suggested.
‘Now that new UBF executive will have the legal mandate to engage with UPBC to agree on constitutional amendments to include provisions for professional boxing.’
He added that the current UBF executive is illegal because it was voted according to the 2025 constitution and outside the Sports Act 2023.
Now the new constitution blessed by all stakeholders, should guide the roadmap for inclusive elections to form a federation. ‘We must agree on the voters register, among others. I pray that the government uses its power to guide us to this destination.’