Juma Ali
Uganda’s welterweight fighter Ukasha Matovu and middleweight boxer Ronald Okello have bowed out of the 2023 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships with bronze medals and a cash prize of $5000 (Shs18m) each.
Seventeen bombers team boxers represent Uganda; at least seven will return home with championship medals.
On day one of the semi-final bouts on August 3, Uganda had four boxers facing the Democratic Republic of Congo counterparts. Only Wasswa Ssali sailed to the grand finale, while Ukasha, Okello and Grace Nankinga settled for bronze.
Ukasha lost to Zengala Boniface by split decision in a hotly contested bout between the evenly braced boxers.
He started his campaign in the quarterfinals and defeated Senegalese Cheikh Diop by split decision.
The 23-year-old silver medallist at Morocco’s 2018 Africa Youth Boxing Championships will walk with his head high after an impressive outing in Cameroon.
Okello lost to Tshama David in the middleweight semi-finals after defeating Obama Mangue of Equatorial Guinea in the previous round.
In the other semi-final bout, Wasswa Ssali defeated Democratic Republic of Congo boxer Kitangila Idris to reach the lightweight finals.
Wasswa has been immense in the championship, winning three bouts in a row as he progressed to the grand finale.
Wasswa outpointed Irungu Maina of Kenya in the round of 16 and defeated Burkina Faso boxer Naba Ousmane to qualify for the semi-finals. He has added Kitangila to his rich list of victims.
The Lukanga Boxing Club pugilist will either walk away with a gold or silver medal in the grand finale of the men’s lightweight category. Significantly, we will pocket either Shs36m or Shs54m if he loses or wins.
Earlier in the day, Grace Nankinga lost in her continental debut as she took on Democratic Republic of Congo opponent Grace Nyembo.
Nankinga earned a bye to the semi-finals and walked away a bronze medallist and Shs18m richer.
The other semi-finalists include; Solomon Geko (Heavyweight), Erinah Namutebi (light welterweight) and Nakalema Emily (welterweight).
