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Baraka's journey to representing Uganda at the prestigious championship was marked with a mix of astonishment and exhilaration.
Heavyweight boxer Baraka James, also known by his stage name "Barak the Beast", is ready to pack a punch at the forthcoming Africa Boxing Championship.
From the Kyengera Boxing Club in Uganda, Baraka is poised to step into the continental ring for the first time, with high hopes of clinching a medal and raising his nation's flag high.
Baraka's journey to representing Uganda at the prestigious championship was marked with a mix of astonishment and exhilaration.
“I did not expect to be summoned on the team. It caught me by surprise, and I remember my family was so happy when we received the news from my coach,” he recalled, still relishing the moment.
Basking in the privilege of playing at the continental level, Baraka expressed his determination to leverage this opportunity to its fullest.
“It is a special privilege for me to go and play at the continental level, and I have been longing for this chance.”
“Now that I have it, the goal is to go there and make my country proud, make my family happy and fight to win a medal,” he stated.
Despite this being his debut at such a high-profile competition, Baraka's confidence in his abilities remains unshaken.
“I know it is my first time playing at such a level, but I am confident in my ability as a boxer, and I will try to use my tools to my advantage and go for the best possible result,” he confidently affirmed.
The Uganda Bombers, the national boxing team, are expected to depart for Cameroon on Monday next week.
The Africa Boxing Championship will take place in Yaounde, Cameroon, from July 25 to August 8, 2023.
As a debutant on the national team, this will mark Baraka's first boxing competition beyond Uganda's borders.
Seven more boxers will make their international debut in Yaounde, including the 18-year-old national featherweight champion Mulungi Kassim of East Coast Boxing Club.
Mulungi is also a City High School student. This youthful talent was preferred over Jonathan Kyobe, a bronze medallist in last year's Africa Championships in Maputo, Mozambique.
Other newcomers include minimumweight Joseph Kalema, lightweight Ssali Wasswa, light-middleweight Muzamir Semmud, middleweight Ronald Okello, cruiserweight Lawrence Kayiwa and super-heavyweight James Baraka.
Debutants in the women's category include light-flyweight Grace Nakinga, bantamweight Naddia Najjeme, featherweight Sharua Ndagire, lightweight Zahara Nandawula, and light-welter Erina Namutebi.
The Bombers squad is also packed with some experience in the mould of Ukasha Matovu, a 2018 AFBC Youth Championships silver medallist now fighting at welterweight.
Light-heavyweight Idriss Mukiibi; super-heavyweight Solomon Geko; female welterweight Emily Nakalema, and team captain Joshua Tukamuhebwa are the others.
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