Finally, the dust looks to have settled in the administration of boxing Uganda following clarification from the National council of sports (NCS) and the Attorney General.
In a letter by the NCS General Secretary Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel, dated April 9th addressed to the Uganda boxing federation president, it was confirmed that NCS recognizes Uganda boxing federation (UBF) as the sole entity responsible for managing the sport of boxing in Uganda.
The letter also re-affirmed and requested that all stakeholders who would like to organize any boxing event to seek clearance from the Uganda boxing federation.
The letter also requested the president of the Uganda boxing federation to liaise with Uganda Police (UPDF) for the enforcement of this directive in case of any further challenge.
“National Council of Sports in accordance with the National Sports Act, Cap 151, hereby inform you and the general public that the law only recognized one registered sports organization to oversee each sports discipline and in this case Uganda Boxing Federation for the case of boxing discipline in Uganda,” partly read the letter.
The NCS letter follows another guidance by the Solicitor General dated 25th February on the interpretation of sections 2,7, T6 and Part IX of the National Sports Act, 2023 concerning boxing as a sport.
The guidance was addressed to the NCS as requested, copied to UBF president and the Attorney General.
Section 7 (2) of the National Sports Act provides that there shall be registered only one national sports association or national sports federation for a sports discipline. Accordingly, the sport of boxing in Uganda can only be managed by one registered national sports association or national sports federation.
Currently, the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) is the national governing body recognised and registered by the National Council of Sports to manage boxing in Uganda.
UBF was registered under the National Sports Regulations of 2014 (S.I” No. 38 of 2014) following the repeal of the National Council of Sports Act, Cap, 48 by the National Sports Act, Cap. 151, were saved under section Sl (2).
There has been an administration misunderstanding between UBF and the Uganda professional boxing commission (UPBC) over who is in charge of professional boxing after the new sports Act virtually rendered UPBC defunct.
In regard to section 16 (d) and (e) of the National Sports Act, the Solicitor General guided that: “Accordingly the Uganda Boxing federation, recognised and registered by the National Council of Sports to manage the sports discipline of boxing has the mandate to develop and promote amateur and professional boxing.
The letter also served to advise that the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission is not eligible for registration as either a national sports association or a national sports federation for purposes of managing boxing in Uganda.
