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The Bombers team will consist of 17 pugilists, including 11 men and six women, who will compete against the best athletes from across the continent.
Led by experienced internationals and a promising group of newcomers, the Uganda Bombers are determined to make a statement and bring home medals from the Africa Elite Men's and Women's Championships.
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Yaounde, Cameroon from July 25th to August 6th.
The Bombers team will consist of 17 pugilists, including 11 men and six women, who will compete against the best athletes from across the continent.
One of the standout names in the Ugandan squad is the light-welterweight southpaw, Joshua Takamuhebwa.
Takamuhebwa, who made waves at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, is considered the most successful Ugandan boxer from the tournament.
He secured two victories before narrowly losing 4-1 in the quarter-finals to Canada's Wyatt Sanford.
Coach Patrick Lihanda expressed his confidence in the team, saying, "We have a strong group of boxers who are determined to make their mark in Yaounde.”
“They have been training hard and are ready to showcase their skills on the African stage," he added.
Joining Takamuhebwa as experienced internationals are Ukasha Matovu, who won the silver medal at the 2018 AFBC Youth Championships and will compete in the welterweight category.
Idriss Mukiibi in the light-heavyweight division, Solomon Geko in the super-heavyweight category, and a female boxer yet to be named.
The remaining 12 boxers in the squad will make their international debut in Yaoundé. Among these newcomers is 18-year-old Mulungi Kassim, a sensational featherweight champion from City High School and a member of the East Coast Boxing Club.
Among these newcomers is 18-year-old Mulungi Kassim, a sensational featherweight champion from City High School and a member of the East Coast Boxing Club.
Mulungi has been preferred over Jonathan Kyobe, a bronze medalist from last year's Africa Championships in Maputo, Mozambique.
Another bronze medalist from Maputo, Yusuf Nkobeza, also did not make the team.
Moses Muhangi, the President of the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF), explained the selection choices, stating that the newcomers have showcased impressive skills during the Champions League, Uganda's premier boxing competition.
Muhangi emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for various boxers to prove themselves rather than focusing solely on a few individuals.
He highlighted the competitiveness within the squad, noting that any boxer could win or lose by a narrow margin.
"We have assembled a talented team that has the potential to achieve great results. We believe in their abilities and are confident that they will make Uganda proud," he explained.
In last year's Africa Championships in Maputo, Uganda finished joint 15th overall alongside Guinea, with both countries securing two bronze medals.
The upcoming Africa Elite Men's and Women's Championships present an opportunity for Uganda to showcase its boxing prowess on the continental stage and aim for even greater success.
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