The Gulu Boxing Club (GBC) has received a major boost in its training capacity with a donation of boxing equipment worth Shs15 million, aimed at revitalising the sport in the city and empowering young athletes.

The donation—comprising a standard boxing ring, gloves, headgears, groin guards, training gloves, hand wraps, and bandages—was delivered through the efforts of Canadian-American missionary Mainse David Reynold and his wife, Kathy Mainse, in partnership with international supporters.

A significant portion of the gear came from Christino, a seasoned boxing coach formerly based near New York City, who relocated to Texas and chose to donate much of his gym equipment. Together with his wife Carmen, they shipped the items from the United States to Gulu, reflecting their passion for supporting grassroots boxing.

Reynold, co-founder of World Embrace, has lived in Gulu for over a decade. Known for his community development work, he said the donation is part of a broader effort to create opportunities for youth. “We didn’t come with a plan to build Uganda’s largest recreational park, but through conversations with community leaders, we saw the need for a safe, family-friendly space. We are now building it step by step, by God’s grace,” he noted.

The equipment will support the upcoming Gulu Community Park, a free public recreational facility set to include a fitness and combat sports training centre for boxing, taekwondo, kickboxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The facility will be open to all local clubs, helping athletes prepare for higher-level competitions.

Founded in 2012, Gulu Boxing Club has grown into a strong platform for discipline, empowerment, and hope, currently training about 96 members in shifts. Head coach Denis Mulindra praised the donation, calling the gear “standard and vital” for advancing the sport.

In a gesture of solidarity, GBC shared part of the equipment with two smaller clubs—Lacor Paradise Boxing Club and Kor Gaa Layibi Boxing Club. Denis Komakech, coach of Lacor Paradise, which has 28 members, said the donation was timely. “We had none of this gear before. This will change our training completely,” he said.

Gulu City Sports Officer Robert Okot commended the Mainse family for their consistent contributions to sports development, recalling their Shs45 million donation toward the renovation of Pece Stadium for the FEASSA Games. He further suggested allocating part of the unused Kaunda Grounds to Gulu Boxing Club for training and storage facilities.

Okot also stressed the health benefits of active sports like boxing. “We eat food every day, but if we don’t use that energy, it stores as fat, narrowing blood vessels and reducing oxygen flow to the brain. Regular exercise, like boxing, prevents this and promotes good health,” he explained.

With renewed resources and community support, Gulu Boxing Club is set to punch its way forward—turning local talent into national and international contenders.