Peter Ogwang, the State Minister for Sports in Uganda, has reiterated the rule that boxing will remain prohibited in schools. This decision comes in the wake of a disturbing video that surfaced following the Uganda Boxing Champions League Week 11. In the video, boxing coach Herbert Kalungi is seen using excessive force to discipline junior boxer Daphine Namitala from Sparks Boxing Club after she lost a match to Irene Apiyo of Gulu Boxing Club. This incident has generated significant reactions on social media, including comments from Moses Muhangi, the president of the Uganda Boxing Federation.
It’s worth noting that the ban on boxing in schools was originally imposed by Ogwang’s predecessor, Hamson Obua, in June 2022. Obua’s directive stipulated that the organization of school championships under the Uganda Boxing Federation should be put on hold until a decision was reached after discussions with the Ministry of Education and Sports’ top management. Despite efforts by Moses Muhangi’s leadership at the Uganda Boxing Federation to have the suspension lifted, the recent developments appear to work against those efforts.
