The manager of Uganda’s Commonwealth Games team says he has “no idea” why four boxers failed to board their flights home from Glasgow and subsequently switched off their mobile phones.
The two men and two women represented Uganda at the Games and were scheduled to return home on Tuesday. Their disappearance has prompted ongoing inquiries by Police Scotland into a number of Commonwealth athletes who have not reported for their return journeys.
Ugandan media reports have suggested the four may be considering seeking asylum. However, Uganda’s chef de mission, Godwin Kayangwe, said he hoped they would return before their visas expire in October.
The missing boxers are Ibrahim Kemis, 20, Nuhu Batte, 22, Emily Nakalema, 32, and Angel Katushabe, 21.
Kayangwe said he did not know what had led the athletes to leave the team arrangements, but believed they could still be in Glasgow or elsewhere 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.
“But after that their phones went off, so they have definitely broken the camp rules because no athlete is supposed to leave without permission.
“Their visas are still valid until October so hopefully, probably, they will come back to their country.”
Police inquiries remain active, although it is understood there is little that can be done at present because the athletes’ current visas are still valid.
Asked whether he had any indication of why the boxers might want to seek asylum, Kayangwe said he did not.
“I have totally no idea, absolutely no idea what type of asylum they would be seeking. It’s nothing political, it’s nothing to do with gender or something [like that] – I have absolutely no idea why they would be doing that.”
Ugandan sports website NBS Sports reported that it had spoken to one of the missing boxers. According to the report, the athlete said the four intended to seek asylum and hoped to continue their boxing careers in a country with better training facilities and opportunities than Uganda.
The boxer was also reported to have asked Ugandans to understand the decision and not judge the athletes.
Kayangwe said responsibility for the matter had now passed to the Ugandan high commission, which would work with the authorities in Scotland.
He urged the missing boxers to comply with the law and return before their visas run out.
“My message is pretty clear, observe the law and make sure the visa does not expire while you are still here. Come back to Uganda and and they can probably come back to Europe whenever they want.”
Kayangwe added that he hoped the athletes would make the “right decision” and go back to Uganda.
The case comes as Pakistan Today reported that Pakistani boxer Qudrat Ullah had also failed to travel home with his team-mates. Officials reportedly searched for him in his room but did not find him.
