Light welterweight boxer Joshua Mwenda says he is living a dream after clinching Uganda’s only gold medal at the Africa Youth Boxing Championship in Conakry, Guinea.
Speaking to Vision Sport, the 18-year-old described his victory as a moment he had long envisioned but never expected to realise during his debut appearance for the national team.
“I give all the glory to God. I had dreamt of this moment, but I never imagined it would happen during my debut for the national team,” said Mwenda, a Senior Five student at Bweyogerere SS.
“I commend my fans, Sparks Boxing Club, the federation, my sponsors, Multi Sports Centre and Inspired Brands Promotions, for helping turn my dream a reality.”
Mwenda, supported by Multi Sports Centre, was Uganda’s sole representative at the continental event which drew boxers from over 20 countries and ran from May 16 to 26.
He was accompanied by his coach, Herbert Skills Kalungi of Sparks Boxing Club, and UPDF referee and judge Moses Mugaga.
His path to gold included back-to-back second-round technical knockouts (TKOs) over South Africa’s Vumazonke Indiphile in the quarter-finals and Libya’s Mohammed Kesher in the semi-finals.
In the final, Mwenda overwhelmed Guinea’s Mamadou Diallo with a dominant performance that ended in a unanimous victory after Diallo was knocked down twice. The referee eventually stopped the contest as Mwenda earned a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Kalungi said the victory was the result of talent and thorough preparation.
“Talent-wise, I’m not surprised by Mwenda’s heroics in Guinea. He is electric, a boxing artist with skill and power,” Kalungi told Vision Sport. “Thanks to our sponsors, we were able to camp early, and that made all the difference.”
Uganda Boxing Federation president Moses Muhangi also praised the young boxer, highlighting the role of the National Boxing Champions League in his development.
“As a country, we are immensely proud of Mwenda,” Muhangi said. “He’s a reminder that Uganda has never lacked boxing talent. The Champions League has played a vital role in developing his potential.”
Mwenda’s gold is Uganda’s first continental boxing title since 2017, when welterweight Muzamir Kakande won gold at the African Boxing Championships.
