Preparations for the Amateur Boxing Tournament have delayed as a result of financial and administrative woes. The competitions have been affected by the failure of Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation to organize both the junior and Novice championship.
The Amateur boxing competition draws pugilists from the junior category between the ages of 14 and 17 years and the Novice who are between 17 to 34 years. Boxers who reach the semi finals in the Novices proceed to the Intermediary category, according to Charles Kizza the organizing secretary Uganda Amateur Boxing Clubs Association.
The Uganda Amateur Boxing Association has been focusing on the National Open Championship which can not stand on its own without the junior teams, according to John Mundunga a former boxer and couch of Kololo High school Boxing Club.
Sandy Wilson Kisuko the Public Relations Officer Uganda Amateur Boxing Clubs Association says the increase in the annual affiliation fees of clubs to Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation from 20.000 to 500.000 shillings in addition to the amendment of the boxing constitution forced many clubs to forfeit their membership.
The boxing constitution was amended to give office bearer four years in office instead of two as the case was previously. Kisuko said these and other factors brought conflicts in the federation making it difficult to prepare for any tournament as no sponsor would offer money to a competition riddled with administrative problems. He also defended the dominance of the competition by boxers from the central region, saying its where most of the clubs are based.
Simon Baligo a key sponsor of the boxing championship says the failure by the federation organize general meetings dealt a final blow to the future of boxing in Uganda. Efforts to speak to the Uganda boxing Federation officials were futile as their offices were closed when our reporter visited Lugogo.
