Godfrey Amooti Nyakana (born June 7, 1967) is a Ugandan former lightweight boxer and politician.[1][2][3] He participated in 1990 Commonwealth Games that took place Auckland city, New Zealand where he won a gold medal.[4] He won 31 games where 19 games were by KO, got 4 losses and drew one game in his professional career.[4] He served as the National Resistance Movement chairperson for Kampala Central Division.[4]
Godfrey Nyakana was born in Kampala, Uganda. He began his boxing career as an amateur. Nyakana’s key victory in the period of his personal development was his winning of a gold medal at the light middleweight division of 1990 Commonwealth Games held in Auckland, New Zealand.[5]
Professional boxing career
Nyakana became professional on 1990 April 21 when he first met Tony Martel where he won by knockout with a record of 6-1-1. Over the course of his career, he had a win loss draw tally of 31-4-1 out of which he knocked out opponents from the ring nineteen times. Running from 1990 to 2003, during which time he engaged in several high-profile fights such as those held at Brooklyn’s Gleason's Gym.[6][7]
A documentary called TitleShot documents his journey and tribulations as a professional boxer including training sessions and games along with off-the-ring life.[6]
After retiring from professional boxing, Nyakana transitioned into politics. He served as the Mayor of Kampala Central Division after winning an election in 2006.[3][7] Nyakana has also been an advocate for youth and sports development in Uganda. He has worked on various initiatives to promote boxing and other sports as a means to empower young people and keep them engaged in positive activities.[5]
Personal life
He was married to businesswoman Sarah Kizito, though their marriage ended after more than a decade.[7]
Controversies
In July 2022, Nyakana was accused of assaulting a police officer who had gone to arrest mobile thieves suspects at Hot-Spa and Massage parlor which is based in Mulungu, Munyonyo.[1] He was arrested in Luzira and released after a week on bail by the Uganda Police on court orders.[3]
Nyakana filed suit against Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation indicting the federation president Moses Muhangi leaving out some clubs to participating in the National Boxing Championship which happened between January 19 to February 3, 2019 at the MTN Arena in Lugogo. Nyakana requested the court to halt the activities from happening.[9]
Nyakana was taken to High court - Land division over failure to repay David Luyiga 260 million for the land which he sold to him and did not give Luyiga the title.[10]
In 2004, Nyakana house found in Bugoloobi was demolished by National Environment Management Authority in a move to recover wetlands.[11] The Uganda Constitutional Court judgement was in support of NEMA decision because is house was built in a wetland which is against the laws,[11] which states that "Wetlands could not be granted to private individuals/entities because the State holds such natural resources in trust for the citizenry and they must be preserved for the public benefit, in this case".[12][13]
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