Four Ugandan boxers participating in the Commonwealth Games have disappeared and did not board their scheduled return flight to Uganda. The athletes, identified as Ibrahim Kemis, 20, Nuhu Batte, 22, Emily Nakalema, 32, and Angel Katushabe, 21, were expected to travel back on Tuesday.
Godwin Kayangwe, the team manager, stated he has no information regarding the boxers' whereabouts or their reasons for leaving. He suspects they may still be in Glasgow or another location in Europe. "I don't know anything about why they decided not to fly home but I know they communicated with their team manager and said they would be coming back," Kayangwe said. He added that their phones were switched off after they communicated their intention to return, a breach of camp rules as no athlete is permitted to leave without authorization.
Their visas remain valid until October, and Kayangwe expressed hope that they might still return to Uganda before their expiry. When questioned about the possibility of the athletes seeking asylum, Kayangwe stated he had no knowledge of such intentions or the specific type of asylum they might be seeking. He explicitly denied any political motivations or issues related to gender as reasons for their disappearance.
Nuhu Batte, one of the boxers.
