Union Transport Alliance pledges support for young boxing talent as new promotions platform targets Uganda’s boxing fraternity
Kampala: Union Transport Alliance (UTA) has expanded its activities into sports promotion with the launch of Union Transport Boxing Promotions, unveiling the Battle for Glory boxing competition scheduled for October 17, 2026, at Club Obligato in Kampala.
The initiative, according to UTA Chief Executive Officer and Business Production Advisor Fred Ssenoga, is intended to create a platform for young Ugandan boxers to showcase their talent and receive support as they pursue careers in the sport.
Speaking during the official launch on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Mr Ssenoga said UTA was not entering boxing primarily to collect gate collections from spectators, but to contribute to the development of young talent.
“We have committed ourselves to support young talents through boxing. We are not after getting money; we won’t be targeting the gate finances from spectators. We need to promote young talents.”
Ssenoga said UTA would work with boxing groups and associations across Uganda to identify and support talented boxers.
“We shall promote and support talented boxers,” he said.
He said the October 17 event would also provide an opportunity to expand UTA’s involvement in talent development beyond boxing, including supporting artists and musicians and creating platforms for their concerts and performances.
Ssenoga further appealed to members of the public to attend the Battle for Glory in large numbers, saying public participation would give Ugandan boxing greater visibility.
“We promise to fund and help the talented boxers with all requirements and at Obligato we appeal to people to attend in numbers to give boxing a huge visibility,” he said.
Transport sector joins boxing drive
The boxing initiative has also attracted support from representatives of different sections of the transport sector.
Grace Buyera, who represented taxi operators under the UTOF Taxi Alliance, said transport operators were ready to support boxing talent through UTA.
She pointed to existing talent among people working in the taxi sector and called for a wider ecosystem for developing sporting talent.
“In taxi business we have a lot of talents, we have cyclists and I appeal to expand the ecosystem of talent development,” she said.
Buyera also said Hajji Rashid Ssekindi, through the Union Transport Alliance, was ready to support the initiative.
Building a wider UTA ecosystem
According to Mr. Christopher Kawamala, Chairman of the United Sectors Forum, described UTA as an organisation whose strength comes from bringing different economic activities together.
He said the informal sector had a responsibility to extend and promote UTA products across communities.
“As informal sector we have the responsibility to extend Union Transport Alliance products,” he said.
Kawamala said the network could reach communities from villages to shops while promoting products including Union Water and Union Jerry, describing this as part of the wider Union Transport Alliance ecosystem.
The sports initiative therefore becomes another activity joining UTA’s expanding portfolio, with boxing positioned alongside its broader efforts to organise and support people within the transport and informal sectors.
‘Vuvuzela of boxing’
Umar Kakaire, Chairman of Bus Transporters, also commended the initiative and pledged support for boxing as a sporting discipline.
He said the transport community would help raise the profile of boxing in Uganda.
“Boxing as sports discipline, we shall shout the vuvuzela of boxing in Uganda,” he said.
Kakaire recalled the influence of international boxing icon Muhammad Ali and Ugandan boxing figures such as Ouma Kasimu, saying the transport fraternity should continue supporting talented boxers.
“We used to support Muhammad Ali, and I used to hear Ouma Kasimu. I commend that we shall support them all as the Union Transport Alliance to support talents,” he said.
Keeping the boxing tradition alive
Ssentongo Musisi, Chairman of Trailer Drivers, welcomed the formation of Union Boxing Promotions, saying the initiative could help keep Uganda’s boxing tradition alive.
He recalled the inspiration provided by boxing personalities including Justine Jjuuko and Nyakana, noting that his own father was also a supporter of boxing.
For UTA, the Battle for Glory is consequently being presented as more than a single boxing event. It forms part of the alliance’s broader effort to build an ecosystem around the people connected to Uganda’s transport sector and create additional platforms for talent development.
With the first Battle for Glory event set for October 17 at Club Obligato, organisers are now calling on boxing enthusiasts and members of the public to attend and give the sport the visibility needed to nurture the country’s emerging talent.
For UTA, the message is clear: the road to economic empowerment can also pass through the boxing ring.
Mr. Frank Mawejje, said he supports Frank Saku and he commended Mr. Fred Ssenoga’s vision as the business production advisor for Union Transport Alliance and said they are committed to making the boxing game visible.
“I did a lot of indiscipline while in school, I used to be in strikes at school for battle for food and meal card securing and he also requested to be part of boxers and got space for boxing competition after class with Mr. Hassan Sseku at City View High school,” he said.
Christmas Tumusime, one of the Boxer operating at Mutasa Kafeero Plaza said he is ready to fight and take part in the competition.
