The future of Rwandan boxing remains like a ship with no compass as the Rwanda Amateur Boxing Association (RABA), the sport’s governing body, struggles to acquire legal status. 

This has put the association in jeopardy preventing it from acquiring funding from the Ministry of Culture and Sports (MINISPOC) and other potential sponsors.

In July, last year, the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee (RNOSC) met with all the boxing clubs in the country to create a federation that represents the sports discipline.

Five clubs out of eight clubs namely; Kimisagara, Kigali Life, Rafiki, No Limit and Inkuba Boxing Clubs who are members of RABA, elected Jacob Murindangabo as the president.

However, divisions within the local boxing fraternity, caused by power struggle, soon emerged, leading to a break-away faction of three clubs which include Remera, Kigali Wins and Fitness as well as Hillside boxing clubs, who held a separate election and voted Shyaka Kanuma as their leader.

They formed a rival federation, Rwanda Olympic Boxing Federation (ROBF), which, however, is not recognised by the RNOSC.

And because RABA doesn’t have the required minimum four clubs to register with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), in November, RNOSC advised the two factions to come together and form an interim committee under RABA, which they did and elected Vicky Kalisa (interim president), Shyaka Kanuma (vice president) and Hussein Nshimiyimana (secretary general).

Speaking to Times Sport, Kalisa explained that the breakaway faction was formed by what he describes as "elements who don’t want to accept that things have changed” and are against "professionalism”.

The interim committee will remain in charge until a required minimum of four clubs have acquired legal status after which new elections would be held to elect leaders for a united federation that is recognised by both the RNOSC and the Ministry of Sports and Culture.

According to Kalisa, only Kigali Life boxing club has acquired their statutes while Kimisagara, Rafiki, No Limit and Inkuba are still in the process of registration.

Kalisa, who is the vice president of Kimisagara boxing club, blames RABA’s failure to get legal status on the three break-away clubs, who he says are, "intentionally not handing in their legal statutes and don’t attend RABA meetings.”

"If at all they could allow bringing their legal statutes, we would organise fresh elections immediately. I’m willing to put all our differences behind for a fresh start because I believe we all want the best for Rwandan boxing,” he said in an exclusive interview last week.

The former national team pugilist says he is positive about the future of Rwandan boxing but noted that former national team coach, Gashugi Kananura, could have a big hand in all the ongoing controversies that are hurting the sport.

However, when contacted, Kananura denied any wrongdoing. "Personally, I’m a coach, I have my own club (Kigali Wins and Fitness), which has all the legal documents that allow us to operate, so how can I stop someone from getting legal status when my club has registered?”

"I don’t have anything to do with the (boxing) federation since I left my position as technical director and national team coach (in November, last year). As for the other clubs, I don’t see why they don’t get their statutes, it’s their responsibility,” he added.

In a separate interview, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee secretary general, Philbert Rutagengwa, said the clubs are not following up with the registration at RGB.

He said, "We can’t follow up individual clubs to make sure they get their statuses, they have people in charge and they know what to do.”

Rutagengwa, however, said RNOSC, despite their effort to unite the two warring factions, there has been little success and, as a result, RABA haven’t been able to schedule any competitions for about a year now.

Rwanda didn’t send a boxing team to the just concluded All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw