Uganda Boxing Federation Seeks Harmony with Stakeholders Meeting

In a renewed effort to foster unity and professionalism within Uganda’s boxing fraternity, the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) has scheduled a stakeholders’ meeting set for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Ibamba Restaurant.

The half-day engagement, which will begin at 9:00 a.m., is expected to bring together verified boxing promoters, managers, matchmakers and agents to discuss the direction of the sport under the new legal framework.

UBF president Moses Muhangi explained that the meeting is intended to open a platform where different stakeholders can gain more clarity about the new sports law and contribute to strengthening the sport’s governance structure.

According to Muhangi, the gathering will also serve as an opportunity to issue licenses to promoters who have already applied through the federation in line with the new regulations.

“We have held several engagements since the Sports Act was enacted. Promoters were invited to register with the federation to obtain licenses and continue their work legally, but some have chosen not to comply. No one is being blocked, but there must be proper procedures to restore professionalism in the sport,” Muhangi said.

The development follows a recent meeting convened by the State Minister for Sports, Peter Ogwang, with members of the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC). The body previously oversaw professional boxing before the introduction of the new sports law, which placed both amateur and professional boxing under the authority of the national federation.

Muhangi noted that he was invited to the meeting on short notice and questioned whether the minister was aware that only about two active promoters were among more than 20 attendees present.

The meeting, which also drew some former federation leaders, stemmed from a petition by Emanuel Mwesigwa of Great Strikers Promotions. Mwesigwa had claimed that UBF declined to sanction their boxing event. However, Muhangi dismissed the accusation, explaining that the federation never received a formal request for sanctioning but rather a simple notice.

Despite lacking official approval from the federation, the event proceeded last week after receiving clearance from Minister Ogwang—something Muhangi believes contradicts the provisions of the new law that the minister himself supported in Parliament.

According to Muhangi, some individuals opposed to the federation’s reform agenda used the meeting to convince the minister that promoters were being excluded from the sport.

“The minister asked for a stakeholders’ meeting, which we have promptly organized. Invitations have been sent out and copied to relevant authorities, including the minister. We hope he can attend and see firsthand the issues we have been highlighting if the UPBC members appear,” he said.

Muhangi further argued that several individuals claiming to be promoters are either inactive or unwilling to comply with reforms aimed at bringing transparency to the sport.

“We are simply asking for basic requirements such as company registration details, contractual documentation, medical preparedness including an ambulance, proof of active boxers and other regulatory standards,” he added.

While some promoters have resisted the earlier registration call, others have already complied through a structure led by Maureen Mulangira with support from Babu Hussein of Nara Promotions.

Meanwhile, another faction within UPBC led by interim chairman Eddie Bazira is seeking ministerial intervention to allow them to join the federation and run professional boxing independently—an arrangement the federation maintains contradicts its constitution and the current sports law.