By Ronald Lusulire
Seven members on the Uganda national boxing team (the Bombers) have brought home medals after they represented the country at the 2023 Africa Elite Boxing Championship, held in Cameroon.
The medal tally in Cameroon is the most ever the Bombers have clinched in a single Africa Boxing Championship for the country.
Only the Rabat 2017 edition comes close with five medals. At the previous edition, they only managed to bring home two bronze medals.
Uganda was represented by 17 boxers at the event that was held in Yaounde, with two walking away with silver and five winning bronze.
Uganda’s lightweight boxer, Wasswa Ssali Amir, alias Black Skin, clinched silver after defeating South Africa’s Sogwayi Sanele in the final.
Light Welterweight female boxer, Erina Namutebi also won silver after defeating Algeria’s Chahib Hichrak in the women’s final.
Ssali and Namutebi returned home richer than they left with each taking US$10,000 (Shs36m).
The Bronze medalists were Ukasha Matovu (Welterweight), Ronald Okello, Solomon Geko (Super heavyweight), Grace Nankinga and lady’s captain, Emily Nakalema, with each taking US$5,000 (Shs18).
While quarterfinalists Muzamir Ssemuddu, James Baraka, Lawrence Kayiwa and Sharua Ndagire each brought home US$2,500.
The outstanding performance of the team has put Uganda on the map of world boxing.
