

Hima Cement sponsored Kickboxing Team returns Victorious
The Hima Cement sponsored Kickboxing team that represented Uganda at the recently concluded World kickboxing championships in Budapest, Hungary returned victorious with two of the three team members winning their respective matches and titles and qualifying for the Kick Boxing World Cup to be held in Andria Italy from 14th to 19th November 2016.


Hima Cement’s Marketing Director Allan Ssemakula 2nd from left poses with kickboxers Patricia Apolot, Alex Masiko, and Shakey Mubiru with their coach Adam Boumadi after they returned from a successful trip in Hungary for the World Kickboxing Championships
Patricia Apolot beat Slovakia’s Victoria Lipianska in the full contact category while Shakey Mubiru defeated Hungary’s Sandor Joo through a unanimous decision by the three judges. Their colleague Alex Masiko lost to Csaba Gyorfy in the class A category even if he is ranked as class C.
In June, HIMA Cement handed over a 70 million sponsorship deal to the team which included a 50 million one year sponsorship package for Patricia Apolot who is the reigning Female Lightweight World Kick-boxing champion. The rest of the cash package amounting to UGX20 million went to cover travel and other expenses for the rest of the team that comprised Alex Matsiko (International champion Lightmiddleweight) and Shakey Mubiru (Uganda welterweight champion) for the global tournament.


HIMA Cement’s Marketing Director Allan Ssemakula shakes hands with with Patricia Apolot the current Female Lightweight World Kickboxing Champion during a press briefing
According to their coach Adam Boumadi, the team did exceptionally in Hungary and helped to put Uganda on the map. “This is a good team. Mubiru is new to international competition but he fought well and won his category. Alex, who had not fought for two years and had never been to Europe to compete also did well even though he lost in his category. With more opportunities like these, he should be able to go on and win many competitions.”
During the press briefing where the kick boxers showcased their trophies and the belts they won, Allan Ssemakula the Marketing Director HIMA Cement, said that the company strives to support initiatives that share the same values. “At HIMA, we identify with people that have grit, zeal, determination and a hunger for success and that is the potential we saw in this young kickboxing team. We could not be prouder to be associated with this kick boxing team because they fought strong opponents and still came out on top.”


Patricia Apolot the current Female Lightweight World Kickboxing Champion going through her training drills
Patricia Apolot was all praises for her team mates who she says put up a spirited fight. Alex for example only lost due to a technical knockout. He was fighting incredibly well.

Hima cement also sponsors other sports in the country including Golf, Rugby and Motorsport. The Marketing Director called on other corporate companies to follow suit and support these youngsters as they need all the support they can get to continue and progress in this sport.
The kick boxers are next slated to take stage on international level in September 2016.