▪️Uganda won two gold medals while Zambia’s all five finalists lost but their light-middleweight Lewis Kasakula was robbed of victory against Malawi’s Mtendere
▪️Uganda’s Franco Wanyama takes Best Boxer Award for the second year running. He beat Kenya’s Martin “Nyoka” Ojuang in the finals
April 8, 2026
Dominant Kenyan boxers scooped eight gold medals to retain FESCAABA title in the finals of the 1988 regional championships at City Hall, Nairobi.
It was Kenya’s eighth time to win the East, Central and Southern Africa Boxing Championships since the inception of the tournament in 1971. The 1987 FESCAABA event also took place in Nairobi.
A highly enthusiastic sellout crowd at City Hall loudly applauded the mighty Kenyan boxers whose accomplishment in the regional event was a big morale booster ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Kenya topped with eight gold, one silver and two bronze medals followed by Uganda 2-3-4, Tanzania 1-3-4, Zambia 0-5-3 and Malawi 1-0-3.
Enjoying sparkling form, light-flyweight Maurice “Kawata” Maina won Kenya’s first gold medal outpointing Uganda’s Fred Muteweta. The Kenyan clicked into top gear in round two, subjecting the Ugandan to a barrage of two-fisted flurries for an eight count by referee Elisha Abetsi.
Muteweta visited the canvas in the third round. After counting the Ugandan twice referee Abetsi waved it off at 57 seconds of the third round.
Kenya’s other gold medallists were bantamweight Steve “Dempsey” Mwema, featherweight John “Duran” Wanjau, light-welterweight David “DK” Kamau, welterweight Robert “Aruba” Wangila, light-heavyweight Joseph “Nyundo” Akhasamba, heavyweight Harold “Schetzer” Obunga and super-heavyweight Chris “Marciano” Odera. Martin “Nyoka” Ojuang won silver with flyweight Anthony Ikegu and light-middleweight Mohammed “Bodi” Orungi taking home bronze medals.
Uganda’s two gold medals came via lightweight Charles Lubulwa and middleweight Franco Wanyama who was also voted the Best Boxer for the second year running after winning it in the 1987 FESCAABA Championships in Nairobi.
Flyweight Benjamin Mwangata was Tanzania’s sole gold medal winner and light-middleweight Mtendere won Malawi’s gold medal through a controversial victory over Zambia’s Lewis Kasakula
Kenya’s captain Patrick “Mont” Waweru lost in the preliminaries to Zambia’s Lameck Mbao who won silver after losing in the finals to Uganda’s Charles Lubulwa.
The chief guest, Minister for Culture and Social Services Paul Ngei presented the overall winners trophy to Kenya’s deputy captain John Wanjau.
