Godfrey Nyakaana, gold medallist at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, has criticised the Ugandan government for not giving boxing adequate support.
Earlier this month, the National Council of Sports suspended the Uganda Boxing Federation indefinitely after three boxers -- David Ayiti, Geoffrey Kakeeto and African welterweight champion Muzamiru Kakande -- disappeared in Germany following the AIBA World Championships in Hamburg.
"I cannot believe that the government, through the National Council of Sports, has continued to give boxing little support," Nyakaana told KweséESPN. "Yet it is one of the disciplines in which we have the talent and can win medals at the International stage.
Businessman Nyakaana, who won gold in the lightweight category at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, has defended the Ugandan boxers who travelled to Europe and never returned.
"I know it could sound funny for me as the Patron of the Uganda Boxing Federation to speak like this," he added, "but this is the reality because the boxers are suffering, and yet they work hard to get to the best form and battle against well motivated boxers around the world.
"In 1990 when we were travelling for the Commonwealth Games, each athlete received $1000 and we pocked more money after winning medals," Nyakaana continued, "but today the boxers received only US$80 and the government could not even buy them uniform and boxing gear."
Nyakaana isn't the only Ugandan to have enjoyed success at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, with Justin Juuko also winning gold in the light flyweight division, and Charles Matata and Abdu Kaddu picking up bronze at the same games.
"Boxing is a big brand in Uganda and it should be supported well by government just like they do for athletics," he concluded.
"Can you imagine at one time we were ranked fourth in the world in boxing even with our small resources?
"It's high time the government re-think and support boxing better because it can help improve the image of the country when the boxers perform well at international level and win medals."