NBS Sport has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zebra Boxing Club ahead of the second edition of the Zebra Mando Memorial Fight Night, scheduled for December 29 at Blend Gardens in Bwaise.
The MoU was signed at Next Media Park in the presence of Isaac Zebra Ssenyange Jr., son of the late Zebra Ssenyange, on behalf of Zebra Boxing Club, and NBS Sport Team Lead Andrew Kabuura, on behalf of NBS Sport.
According to the agreement, NBS Sport will broadcast the event live, marking the first time the memorial fight will be televised.
Four years have passed since the tragic death of former Bombers captain, Isaac Ssenyange, widely known as Zebra Mando.
He was fatally shot by officers from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force on December 30, 2020, near his residence in St. Francis Zone, Bwaise III Parish, Kawempe Division.
In his memory, Zebra Boxing Club organised the inaugural Zebra Mando Memorial Fight Night on December 29, 2023, at the Lugogo Hockey Grounds.
This year, the second edition will be held in Bwaise, a place deeply connected to Mando’s legacy, and will aim to support single mothers in the community.
During the signing ceremony, Ssenyange Jr. expressed his excitement about the partnership with NBS Sport, emphasizing the importance of bringing the event to a national audience.
“I’m very happy and excited to be here signing the MoU with a very big company like Next Media. At least what we envisioned for the second edition of the memorial is coming to life,” he said.
Explaining the motivation behind the partnership, Ssenyange Jr. added, “This year, we wanted to make the memorial fight night a national event. That’s why we have partnered with NBS Sport to ensure that the event is broadcast to the whole country.”
Kabuura echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the broadcaster’s mission to Champion Ugandan Sport.
“For us at NBS Sport, we made it clear from the beginning that our plan is to champion Ugandan sport. This will be our last boxing event of the year after the Boxing Champions League, and we’re very happy to cover it,” he stated.
Ssenyange Jr. stated that the annual memorial fights aim to honour the legacy of the late Zebra Mando, who was a celebrated figure in Ugandan boxing.
“My late dad wanted his life and legacy to be celebrated because of his achievements in boxing. Celebrating him through these memorials is a gift from me to him,” Ssenyange Jr. remarked.
Reflecting on how the idea of the memorial fight night began, Ssenyange Jr. explained, “On the first and second anniversaries of his death, we held candlelight prayers at home, and the people that attended were increasingly becoming many.”
“That’s why we decided to hold the Zebra Mando Memorial Fight Night last year on the third anniversary of his death at the Lugogo Hockey Grounds.”
Last year’s edition was a special moment for Ssenyange Jr. as it not only marked his transition from amateur to professional boxing, but was also the night when he defeated Tanzania’s Ramandani Alibaba Timora by knock out (KO).
This year’s event will feature a boxing gala with numerous matches, including international bouts and national championships.
It will also have a strong community focus, with proceeds going toward supporting single mothers in Bwaise by paying their children’s school fees for a year.
“The money that will be collected from the event will go towards supporting single mothers by paying their children’s school fees for a period of one year,” Ssenyange Jr. explained.
According to Ssenyange Jr. the decision to host this year’s event in Bwaise also holds significant meaning.
“We decided to hold the event in Bwaise because Bwaise is the home of boxing. It is also where Zebra Mando came from, and he introduced boxing to Bwaise,” he said, assuring attendees of tight security at the event.
To attend, fans can buy discounted early bird tickets at UGX 10,000 for Ordinary, UGX 30,000 for VIP, and UGX 100,000 for VVIP. The offer will be available untill one day to the event.
Regular-priced tickets will then be sold at the gate for UGX 20,000, UGX 50,000, and UGX 150,000, for Ordinary, VIP and VVIP respectively.
