KAMPALA – Four Ugandan boxers have reportedly gone missing in Scotland after the conclusion of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, failing to travel home with the rest of the national team.
The missing athletes have been identified as Emily Nakalema, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Khemis, and team captain Nuhu Batte. Reports indicate the four failed to board Uganda’s scheduled return flight after the Games ended on August 2.
According to multiple media reports, the athletes are believed to be planning to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, citing better training facilities and opportunities to further their boxing careers. One of the athletes reportedly told Ugandan media they hoped the public would understand their decision.
Authorities in Scotland are investigating the disappearances, with Police Scotland, UK immigration authorities and Commonwealth Games officials working to establish the athletes’ whereabouts.
The Ministry of Education and Sports is also following up the matter and was expected to issue a statement after confirming that the athletes did not return with the delegation.
The missing boxers were part of Uganda’s boxing team at the Glasgow Games but were eliminated before the medal rounds. Two other Ugandan boxers, Alfred Ojok and Aziz Abdul, returned home with the team. Abdul, the grandson of former Ugandan president Idi Amin, had earlier been disqualified during his quarter-final bout after committing repeated fouls, including a deliberate headbutt.
The latest incident follows a pattern of Ugandan athletes disappearing during international competitions.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, rugby sevens players Benon Kizza and Philip Pariyo failed to return home and later surfaced in Wales after seeking asylum.
Similarly, six Ugandan athletes disappeared during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, including cyclists, weightlifters, boxers and a table tennis player. Uganda’s Chief de Mission at the time confirmed that the athletes had left the Games Village without returning to the team.
Uganda has also experienced similar cases at other international sporting events. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko went missing before he was later located and deported to Uganda. Other Ugandan athletes have also disappeared after competitions in Germany and elsewhere in Europe in recent years.
The recurring incidents have renewed debate over the challenges faced by athletes from developing countries, with observers pointing to the pursuit of better professional opportunities abroad, while government officials continue to urge national teams to return home after representing the country at international events.