The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission today, April 9, welcomed Uganda’s leading promoter Steve Sembuya who has relocated to the capital city Nairobi.
Sembuya, the CEO of 12 Sports Round Promotions, said he will now be staging all his fights in Nairobi due to what he described as “economic sabotage” of his business at home by the National Sports Council and the Uganda Boxing Federation which is now in charge of pro boxing also as per the ne_Kenyan boxing fans will now be watching top Uganda pro boxers such as Owen Kibira aka Matrix pictured here when he signed with promoter Steve Sembuya in Kampalaw Sports Act.
“As promoters we’re against the Sports Act putting us together with amateur boxing, we feel it’s an insult to have us operate under Uganda Boxing Federation,” said the United States-based Sembuya whose delegation led by advocate Joshua Sewankambo received business promotion licence from the KPBC President Reuben Ndolo in Nairobi.
Sembuya said they have realised the new changes are just meant to frustrate them with some petty officials using the opportunity to settle old scores.
“We’ve been pushed out of business by our own government, instead of assisting us get sponsors they’re making it difficult for us to do business,” explained an angry Sembuya.
“Recently our fight card which had 40 boxers and equal number of coaches was cancelled, the aim was just to show us who is in charge of pro boxing, that’s how low Ugandan boxing has sunk.
“By cancelling the event suppliers of the ring, Tshirts, chairs and those in the transport business were hit hard, we’re bringing business to Kenyans, I’m happy the KPBC has welcomed us warmly in our good neighbourly spirit.”
Ndolo, a former promoter in the 80s, was flanked by the secretary general Franklin Imbenzi and assistant secretary-general Julius Odhiambo who is also the acting treasurer.
“I’m pleased to announce we have approved Sembuya as our new promoter and licenced 20 Ugandan boxers to fight in Kenya,” said Ndolo who appealed for more Ugandan promoters to shift to Kenya.
“We have had good boxing relationship with our Ugandan neighbours since the 50s, what is happening in their country is unfortunate but we will not dwell much on that since our aim is to create a conducive atmosphere for our East African promoters to thrive without hitches.”
Sembuya’s first promotion will take place on May 10 in Nairobi. Some of the top boxers to feature in the card are welterweight Henry Kasujja, hottest property in the Champions League Owen Kibira aka Matrix and big punching light-heavyweight Abdul Njego.
Sembuya previously managed newly-crowned ABU super middleweight champion Shadir Bwogi and current Asian middleweight champion David Ssemuju, both former international star boxers with the national team Uganda Bombers.
“When a business moves from Uganda, it creates jobs and opportunities where it has gone, so it’s Uganda that has lost and Kenya has gained big-time. We will make Kenyan pro boxing vibrant by staging regular quality fights,” said Sembuya, adding:”Instead of improving the low amateur boxing standards they’re wasting their time on pro boxing.”
Boxing analysts view Sembuya’s decision to relocate to Kenya as a big embarrassment to the Ugandan government, and a bitter pill to swallow for those who have been sabotaging his efforts to develop pro boxing in Uganda.
