The new East African Amateur Boxing Union was formed on Monday in Kampala, Uganda, local boxing body Raba has confirmed.

The union is the first step towards reviving the defunct Federation of East, South and Central African Amateur Boxing Association (FESCAABA) that was disbanded in 1996 due to boxing politics. The continental body, African Boxing Confederation (ABC) sidelined FESCAABA because they considered it a threat.

The Raba Secretary General Eugène Ndashikirwa told Times Sport yesterday that the new union will help in reviving the region’s boxing standards after a poor show in recent years.

"The newly formed Union will help in elevating the region’s boxing standards as well as be able to have many representatives in international championships,” Ndashikirwa said.

The union which also held elections for new members saw Raba’s Technical Director Gashugi Kananura elected as the technical vice-president of the newly revived Eastern Africa Amateur Boxing Union. In other posts, Tanzania’s boxing federation chief Shaban Mitanga was elected the interim president of the Union.

Uganda boxing body head Roger Ddungu was elected vice president in the meeting, which first revised the association’s constitution and also agreed that the first regional tournament will be held in Tanzania on December 9.

Kenya’s Charles Gituma was elected Secretary with John Wachira as his assistant, while Burundi’s Jimmy Nakuri was elected treasurer with Hamim Hamisi as his assistant.

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