▪️”I’ve decided to turn pro to make extra income because pro is business but I know at the beginning I’ll have to sacrifice a lot,” says Murungi
April 13, 2026
Uganda’s elite boxer, Kassim Murungi aka The People’s Champ, is redefining the game, harnessing the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) liberalized rules to transition into professional boxing while remaining the stalwart captain of the national team nicknamed The Bombers.
The 22-year Murungi, the reigning Africa Zone 3 featherweight champion, will make his pro debut on May 2 against unheralded Yakubu Magumba (0-4-0) at the MTN Arena, Lugugo in Uganda’s capital city Kampala.
Murungi has capitalised on IBA’s revolutionary liberalization which allows professional boxers to maintain their amateur status by representing their national teams.
“I’ve decided to turn pro because I want to make some money for myself since this is business,” Murungi told boxersworld.co.ke looking ahead to a lucrative career in the barechested game to cash in on his boxing talent, highlighting the shift towards maximizing opportunities in this new, flexible boxing landscape.
Commenting on his opponent Magumba, the sensational Ugandan boxing star said: “I don’t know much about him. What I know he’s a good boxer because he has played tough opponents which is a good beginning for me but he’s not a threat.”
Murungi has not signed with any promoter for now.
“For my first fight I’m promoting myself, no contract at all with a promoter but I’m open for negotiation with promoters willing to have me in their stables,” said Murungi who did not hide his love for the national team.
“I still remain a member of the national team since I’m playing both amateur and pro boxing, I thank the IBA for giving boxers this freedom to fight in both.”
Murungi hailed the Uganda Boxing Federation for issuing him with a licence to venture into pro boxing.
“I’m very grateful to our federation for their cooperation in giving me a licence to fight in pro boxing, it’s a progressive gesture from UBF,” said Murungi as he eyes a place in the national team to take part in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
“Since featherweight is not included in the Commonwealth Games I’m planning to add three kgs to move up to lightweight for the trials, I’m ready to face any boxer in this weight class to earn my place in Uganda’s team for the Commonwealth Games,” said Murungi, an aggressive high volume relentless puncher who prefers to fight from the inside keeping his opponents close.
“My aim is to dominate and rise high just like I’m doing in amateur boxing,” said Murungi.
In addition to his gold medal he won in the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi, Murungi won a bronze medal in the African Games in Accra, Ghana, in 2024. He made his international debut in the 2023 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Murungi’s decision comes amid a booming professional boxing scene in Uganda with new promoters offering a pathway for amateur standout talented boxers to fight barechested, a stark contrast to previous bottlenecks in the sport. His May 2 debut is expected to highlight a new era for local elite boxers taking the leap.
