The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda National Boxing Team, the Bombers, failed to secure a single Olympic slot through the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers tournament held in Dakar, Senegal. All six boxers who represented the country in the Dakar qualifiers were eliminated, including the team captain, Joshua Tukamuhebwa.
The series of disappointments began with Grace Nankinga and Jonah Kyobe being eliminated in the initial rounds. Later, Shadir Musa Bwogi, who had initially received a bye, suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Algeria’s Nemouchi Younes. This disappointing trend continued with the elimination of Shafik Mawanda and Isaac Zebra Ssenyange in the Quarterfinals.
Joshua Tukamuhebwa, who had won two previous fights, carried the last hopes for the Bombers. However, he too was defeated by Colin Richarno from Mauritius, who had previously beaten him in the African Boxing Championship. Richarno’s victory marked the end of Uganda’s aspirations to secure an Olympic slot through this tournament.
Uganda’s last chance to qualify a boxer for the Olympics will now depend on two world qualification tournaments: one in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from February 29 to March 12, and the other in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 23 to June 3.
The Olympic qualification process involved multiple categories, including Continental qualification tournaments and two World Qualification Tournaments. The African tournament had limited slots, with only the gold medalists in each weight category earning the right to represent the continent in the Paris Games.
While Uganda’s boxers faced setbacks at the 2020 Olympics, the country remains determined to secure a spot in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics through these world qualification tournaments.
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