Has Uganda secured Olympic future with World Boxing?

Uganda finally joined WB, the new international governing body for amateur boxing recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). But is it enough to secure the country’s future in Olympic boxing?

World Boxing (WB) was formed in April 2023 before the IOC expelled the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the Olympic Movement in June 2023.

The IOC managed boxing at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics but warned that it would not repeat the role at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Thus, boxing was kept off the LA28 programme until a new international body “with integrity” took over from IBA, which the IOC has since 2016 accused of lack of transparency regarding finances, governance, ethics, refereeing and judging.

In late September, the IOC tasked national federations to cut ties with the IBA for their boxers to stand a chance to participate in the Olympics.

IBA president Umar Kremlev called that "unprecedented pressure,"  "a testament to the IOC's outrageous political games" aimed at "damaging boxing."

Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president Moses Muhangi, a close ally of Kremlev, was equally indignant at IOC’s orders and showed almost no interest in denouncing IBA for WB.

“Since UBF has participated in the Olympics we have received very little gain compared to the benefits we have received by affiliating to IBA,” Muhangi wrote back to the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) on October 16.

But a lot has since changed. WB moved from just 44 member countries, to 75, the minimum requirement for Olympic recognition. In the IOC Congress in March, WB won the IOC recognition as the new governing body mandated to anchor boxing ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics.

By December 2024, Nigeria and Algeria were the only African members in WB. Now the new body boasts 106, with Uganda the 11th African member.

“In our bid to open up many opportunities for our boxers, UBF is now affiliated with WB for Olympic boxing, IBA for open, semi & pro boxing and WB Council (WBC) for amateur and professional boxing,” Muhangi announced on a WhatsApp group on Thursday.

So, has Uganda finally denounced IBA secretly to join WB?

It’s unlikely, considering Muhangi’s closeness with Kremlev. The Russian mogul has visited Uganda twice since 2022 and promised to build a boxing academy in the outskirts of Kampala.

Muhangi also attended the Russia Boxing Federation elective congress early this year.

In December, IBA allowed its members to join WB without denouncing IBA. But does the IOC accept this dual membership?

“The IOC position has not changed. As per the September 30 instruction, all national federations should denounce IBA and join World Boxing to be considered for Olympic boxing,” UOC president Donald Rukare told Daily Monitor.

“We welcome the UBF decision to join WB. But we haven’t received any new guidance from the IOC regarding dual membership.”

However, this could be one of Muhangi’s moves to tighten his grip on the UBF, which will govern amateur and pro boxing, according to the National Sports Act 2023 by June 20.  

IOC vs IBA SERIES

2016: IOC forces IBA to suspend Rio 2016 ring officials

2019: IOC suspends IBA over finances and ethics

June 2022: IOC announces IBA won’t manage the Paris 2024 boxing pathway

April 2023: USA and co. create WB

June 2023: IOC expels IBA from Olympic Movement

December 2023: IBA bans dual membership of federations

April 2024: CAS dismisses IBA appeal against IOC dismissal

May 2024: IOC meets WB

September 2024: Swiss federal court rejects IBA’s appeal vs CAS

December 2024: IBA amends constitution to allow dual membership

January 2025: IBA asks Trump to intervene

February 2025: IBA threatens legal action vs IOC for transgender box

February 2025: WB hits 75-member mark

March 17, 2025: IOC executive board proposes boxing at LA28

March 20, 2025: IOC confirms boxing will be at LA28