The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) has appointed two former members of the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) to lead its newly established Licensing Commission, marking a major shift in the governance of professional boxing in the country.
Maureen Mulangira, who previously served as the Treasurer of UPBC, has been named Chairperson of the UBF Licensing Commission, while Babu Hussein, the former head of promoters in the UPBC, will serve as Deputy Chairperson.
Their appointments follow the initiation of processes to merge functions of UPBC and UBF, as mandated by the National Sports (Amendment) Act, 2023.
The law now requires that each sports discipline in Uganda be governed by a single national federation or association.
Section 7(2) of the National Sports (Amendment) Act, 2024, states that, “There shall be registered only one national sports association or national sports federation for a sports discipline.”
Mulangira and Hussein will be joined on the Licensing Commission by Phillip Munaabi as Secretary, as well as Abdu Tebazalwa and Nicholas Buule as members.
Their primary role will be to oversee the transition of amateur boxers into the professional ranks, as outlined in Article 11.4.4 of the UBF Constitution.
The appointments were confirmed in a letter dated February 13, 2025, signed by Muhangi and copied to key stakeholders, including the National Council of Sports (NCS), State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang, Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni, and international boxing bodies such as ABU, AFBC, WBC, WBA, IBF, IBA, and WBO.
The changes come just days after former UPBC President Salim Uhuru stepped aside, passing leadership of the Professional Boxers’ body to an interim committee led by promoter Eddie Bazira.
The establishment of the UBF Licensing Commission represents a landmark step in unifying and streamlining boxing administration in Uganda.
By consolidating amateur and professional boxing under one governing body, the move aims to enhance coordination, governance, and the overall development of the sport.
The operationalisation of the new sports law is pending a Statutory Instrument from the Ministry of Education and Sports that will guide different parameters on how the sports act can be adhered to.
