Support Youth Boxing in Uganda

Posted on | January 10, 2011 | No Comments

Fight Foundation Uganda

Fight Foundation Uganda is a non-profit Organization that promotes the fostering of Boxing talent among the youth of Uganda. The Foundation strives to promote youth Boxing at the grassroots level, right from the village level, schools, and communities, all with the aim of molding these pupils into future world-class professional pugilists representing Uganda.

Back Story:

Uganda has produced some the World’s best boxers from the likes of Kassim ‘’The Dream” Ouma to Justin Jukko, Jackson “Action” Asiku, Ayub Kalule, John “The Beast” Mugabi, Godfrey Nyakaana, Joseph “The African Express’’ Kiwanuka, Bosa Edwards, Fred Muteweta… to the current upcoming crop of professionals like Sharif Bogere, Badru Lusambya, and Peter Semogerere, who all came from humble backgrounds to rise to stardom.

Unfortunately, in spite of this massive talent in the Country, no efforts have been undertaken by government and other concerned parties to groom and nurture more young talents right from the grass roots. Boxing equipment and Gyms continue to remain a privilege of the urban dwellers. Even the few gyms around more rural areas are poorly equipped.

It was with this grim background that The Fight Foundation was formed in 2008 in Kampala, Uganda, not only to cover the gap but to also build future Boxers right from the grassroots in Uganda. The Foundation was initiated by boxing fan Mr. Kiwalabye Ronald and former professional boxer Mr. Nsamba Asanasio.

Mission:

Our Mission is to produce future world class boxers for Uganda through the identification, nurturing and developing of young boxing talent at the grassroots level.

Vision:

Our vision is a Uganda where young people talented in boxing can easily access the sport at any time without having to travel great distances or pay large fees.

Objectives of the Foundation:

i) To groom future world class boxers for Uganda right from the local communities.

ii) To change peoples’ perceptions on boxing since many still regard it as a rough sport only meant for school drop-outs.

iii) To promote women’s boxing and women boxers in Uganda.

iv) To identify, harness and develop young boxing talent right from the grassroots in Uganda.

v) To undertake community, regional and national boxing competitions in the country.

vi) To set up a Boxing Academy in Uganda for nurturing boxing talent.

Programs:

All our programs are geared at not only promoting boxing at the local level, but also building a broader spectrum of programs that take gender issues into consideration by including girls and women in our clinics and training programs.

Our Boxing Programs include:

1) Community Boxing Clinics:

These are geared at promoting boxing at the community level in Uganda, especially in areas with no boxing facilities like Gyms. Youths and children interested in boxing converge on such centers and are trained in the science of boxing.

2) Lions Boxing Club: (LBC):

The Lions Boxing Club was formed in 2009 as the brain child of the Fight Foundation. It was formed after the realization that training future pugilists alone without competition was not enough. Competition in different weight categories was necessary for the youngsters to fully master the sport.

Boxers in LBC Compete in the Schools National Championship, the Juniors National Championships, Novices, Intermediary and the national Open Championships. Our Boxers are now competing in the Novices National Championships.

3) Women’s’ Boxing:

Women’s boxing is one of our core programs aimed at bringing women on board in the boxing arena. We currently have 5 women boxers and a number of young girls are slowly getting attracted to the sport

4) Schools’ Holiday Program:

This targets school children in both junior and secondary levels. Our training ground at Kamwokya playground is always a centre of attraction for the school kids who are given basic skills in boxing.

5) Building Character thorough Boxing:

Fight Foundation also applies the science of Boxing to instill character into young people. To be an accomplished boxer one needs to be hard working, resilient, disciplined and very determined. We use boxing to instill in our students the values of diligence, resilience, discipline and determination.

6) Non Formal Education for Boxers:

Many times some boxers might fail to to succeed in boxing due to constraints like injury, limited talent and age which might hinder their progress in the sport. The non formal Education for boxers was hence established in 2009 to equip boxers with skills in vocational studies like Carpentry, Creative Art and Poultry farming as an alternative plan in case boxers don’t succeed in making sustainable funds from participating in the sport, or in the case that they must retire early from boxing with limited savings.

Our Camp in Kamuli Village, Wakiso District offers no–cost vocational training to our youths in Carpentry and woodwork, Creative Art and Poultry Farming. This is also intended for boxers to have work after retiring form Boxing.

Equipment Needs:

1) Sparring Gloves – 14 and 16 Ounce.
2) Fighting Gloves – 10 , 8 and 12 Ounce.
3) Punching Bags – Heavy, Middle and Light.
4) Pads.
5) Skipping Ropes – Wire, Light, and Leather.
6) Speed Balls – Ceiling to ball and Board
7) Medicine Ball – 3kgs and 5 kgs.
8) Sports Wear – shorts, sleeveless and track suits.
9) Training Wind Kitters.
10) Bandages.
11) Gum shields (mouth guards).
12) Ring Boots
13) Training Shoes
14) Towels.
15) Ring – 16 squared or 22ft squared.
16) Head guards.
17) Jack straw
18) Shadow boxing metals
19) Heart Beat Scale
20) First Aid Box
21) Timing Watch (professional sport timer.
22) Boxing Scales
23) Scoring Computer
24) Gowns
25) Gym Premises (currently we are training in the field outdoors).

DONATE GEAR TO:

Fight Foundation Uganda
Plot 51 c opposite the Petro Station.
Old Kiira Road Kamwokya
Kampala, Uganda.
PO Box, 22222 Kampala.

Contact Info For Further Inquiries:

Tel: +256-774-973127
kiwalabye2000@hotmail.com