Shadir Musa dropped from Olympic qualification team remains unfazed by defeat in Russia

In a surprise twist, the Uganda Olympic Committee has dropped Shadir Musa Bwogi and David Ssemujju from the list of the boxers set to feature at the Olympic qualifiers.

The inclusion of both pugilists had raised a lot of contention from the Uganda Boxing Federation to the extent that President Moses Muhangi resigned from his team manager role.

In a letter dated 25th August 2023, UOC General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru confirmed a six-man team en route to Dakar with Idris Mukiibi and Joshua Tukamuhebwa replacing the Bwogi and Ssemujju, respectively.

Flyweight Shafik Mawanda, the 2022 Africa boxing championship bronze medallist Jonathan Kyobe, middleweight Yusuf Nkobeza, welterweight Isaac Zebra Ssenyange Jr. and Flyweight Grace Nankinga complete the list.

The qualifiers will take place from 9th – 15th September in Dakar, Senegal.

However, Bwogi, 26, who has just returned from Russia, where he was fighting at the IBF Champions night, losing to Uzbekistan's Odiljon Aslonov after five rounds, says the experience was worth it.

"My Russian experience was great; even though I lost, I gave everything and represented Uganda to the fullest; I aimed to show the world that boxing in Uganda exists," he told Pulse Sports.

"I want to encourage my fellow boxers to challenge themselves and take the sport worldwide."

The ABU African super middleweight champion has managed four professional fights, winning all of them.