Uganda boxers missing after Commonwealth Games

Scottish police are investigating the disappearance of seven athletes, who remain unaccounted for, following the conclusion of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Sunday. The missing athletes include four members of Uganda’s boxing team, Pakistan boxer Qudratullah, and two others whose identities have not been disclosed.

The four Ugandan boxers, Nuhu Batte, 22, Angel Katushabe, 21, Ibrahim Kemis, 20, and Emily Nakalema, 32, failed to report for their scheduled flight home on Tuesday. Only two members of the six-member Ugandan boxing squad have returned to Uganda. The two who returned include light heavyweight Alfred Ojok and heavyweight Abdul Aziz “Ringo”, the grandson of former Ugandan president Idi Amin.

One of the missing boxers told Uganda’s NBS Sport that the group intended to seek asylum in Scotland and continue their boxing careers there, citing better training facilities and opportunities. The boxer appealed to Ugandans for understanding and asked not to be judged for the decision.

Uganda’s chef de mission, Godwin Kayangwe, said he has “absolutely no idea” why the boxers vanished. He noted that their UK visas remain valid until October and urged them to return before their visas expire. “They have definitely broken the camp rules because no athlete is supposed to leave without permission,” he told BBC Scotland.

The Uganda Boxing Federation president, Muhangi Moses, said it was “too early to say that the four boxers disappeared,” noting they were free to visit friends and family while their visas were still valid. He said some team members were meant to return “later this week” and others at the weekend.

Pakistan boxer Qudratullah was not found in his room when officials searched for him before the team’s departure.

Police Scotland said in a statement: “Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for. Enquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office”.

The disappearances follow a pattern seen at previous Commonwealth Games. In 2014, also in Glasgow, two Ugandan rugby players disappeared and later claimed asylum, moving to Cardiff to play for a local rugby team. In 2018, about 190 athletes and officials sought asylum after the Gold Coast Games in Australia.

More recently, around 20 Ethiopian youth players and officials disappeared during the 2026 Gothia Cup in Sweden. During qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, seven Eritrean footballers disappeared after helping eliminate Eswatini.

SOURCE: Reuters