National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel has threatened legal action against rival groups challenging the recognised leadership of the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF), warning that the government will not tolerate parallel structures seeking to control or represent Ugandan boxing.

Ogwel delivered the stern warning on Wednesday at Copper Chimney in Lugogo while flagging off Uganda’s contingent for the Africa Boxing Championships, scheduled for October 15–28 at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya.

Credit to UBF

The intervention comes amid a long running governance dispute involving UBF, led by Moses Muhangi, the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) and stakeholders associated with Friends of Boxing over the administration and leadership of the sport.

The NCS recognises Muhangi’s UBF as Uganda’s national governing body for boxing, a position that has become central to the disagreements over who has the authority to administer the sport and represent the country.

Ogwel insisted that the government’s recognition of UBF leaves no room for competing structures claiming an independent mandate to govern or represent Ugandan boxing.

“We have had a big challenge in the game of boxing; everyone wants to be the president. But I want to tell you that there is only one president at a go,” Ogwel said.

He warned that authorities were prepared to move beyond verbal warnings and invoke the law against groups operating outside the recognised framework.

“To the extent we have gone, we’re now going to start biting, and when we say biting, we are going to use the law,” he added.

Ogwel also issued a direct warning against any rival group seeking to represent Uganda internationally without recognition from the relevant authorities.

“When I hear that there is another group that is going to represent Uganda, I am telling you, we’re starting with that group. We have only one federation that is recognised by the government of Uganda,” he said.

The NCS chief’s remarks underline the government’s determination to enforce its recognition of UBF as the national governing body, although the wider dispute over boxing’s administration has involved competing positions on the governance of professional boxing and the federation’s authority.

The warning sets the stage for a tougher approach to the wrangles as Uganda seeks to restore stability in a sport preparing for a significant continental assignment.

Ogwel demands Olympic ambition

Away from the governance battle, Ogwel challenged Uganda’s boxers to approach the Nairobi championships as part of the country’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Nairobi championship is the first stage of qualification for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles as the only winners will make it to the next level of qualification in Nigeria for the final qualification challenge.

He cautioned the team against judging its performance solely by the number of medals won in Kenya, insisting that the bigger ambition must be to produce athletes capable of winning honours on the Olympic stage.

“What is important is that we’re starting on the journey of the Africa Championship and a road to the Olympic Games in 2028 in LA,” Ogwel said.

“So I don’t want you to look for only the medals; look beyond that because we want you to get us a medal at the bigger stage,” he added.

Ogwel also praised Muhangi for keeping boxers active despite the persistent administrative disagreements, saying the federation had continued to provide athletes with opportunities to compete.

“I want to thank the Boxing Federation president for promoting the game of boxing amidst all the challenges. I want to thank you particularly for making the boxers busy by giving them what to do,” he said.

Muhangi targets medals in Nairobi

Muhangi challenged the national team to return from Kenya with medals, stressing that the continental championship would provide an important test ahead of the next Olympic qualification cycle.

UBF President-Moses Muhangi

“We’re asking you to go and bring medals. Take this tournament very seriously because it’s the precursor for the Olympic 2028 qualifier,” Muhangi said.

Uganda will field 18 boxers, comprising 10 men and eight women, at the October 15–28 championship.

The tournament will offer Uganda an opportunity to assess its strength against Africa’s leading boxing nations while building towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

For now, however, Ogwel’s message to the sport’s rival camps is unmistakable, the government recognises Muhangi’s UBF as the national governing body, and any challenge to that arrangement must be addressed within the applicable legal framework rather than through competing claims to authority.