Tom Kawere

Thomas Nseremye Kawere also known as Tom Kawere (Born: 1 June 1927, Died: 5 December 2021) was a Ugandan professional boxer and a former coach of The Uganda National Boxing Team which also known "The Bombers". He was the first Ugandan and East African to win a boxing medal at the Commonwealth games in 1958.

Background and education
Kawere was a grand child of Stanislas Mugwaanya who served as a chief in the Buganda Kingdom.

Kawere went to Namilyango College for his secondary education and Loughborough College for Physical Education in the UK.

On 29 July 2016, Kawere was awarded an accolade for his service contribution to the country and Namilyago College by Moses Magogo who is the FUFA president during the Namilyango College Old Boys Association inaugural dinner which took place at Protea Hotel in Kampala.

Kawere died on 5 December 2021 with 94 years at his home in Lubaga due to spinal cord complication which was sustained as a result of a boda boda accident which happened in 2017.

Personal life
Kawere was married to Nampeera Kawere on 25 September 1953 and they had nine children.

Career
Kawere became boxer in Namilyago College in 1944 where he served as the school team captain from 1945 to 1949. Kawere started the Kampala Boxing Club.

Kawere participated in the 1958 Commonwealth games in Wales where he emerged as the winner for silver medal in the welterweight division. Between 1959 up to 1969, he was the head coach of the Uganda National boxing team called The Bombers and led Uganda to the 1960 Rome Olympics. While in Rome-Italy for the Olympics game, he trained Muhammad Ali. Kawere also coached Idi Amin Dada who won Uganda's heavyweight boxing title.

Kawere served as a clerk in 1950 at the Ministry of Public Relations and Social Welfare. Between 1960 and 1965, he served as a member of the Ugandan Olympic Committee. From 1960 to 1977, he worked as the sports officer at the Ministry of Culture and Community Development. Between 1963 and 1965, Kawere served as a member and treasurer of the Uganda Amateur Athletics Association and he served as Administrative secretary to the National Sports Council from 1977 to 1981.

In 1965, Kawere was the appointed the Uganda Boxing Association referee and judge. In 1962, he became the coach for Amateur Athletic Association in UK and in 1974, he became the International Boxing Association judge.

Professional Record

 * style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|3 Bouts (50% by knockouts),  9 Rounds


 * - style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
 * - style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Result
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Result
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location


 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * align='center'|2-0-0
 * align=left|🇿🇦 Joseph Greyling
 * July 25 1958
 * align='left'|L-PTS
 * align=left| Sophia Gardens, Pavilion Cardiff
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * align='center'|1-2-0
 * align=left|🇬🇧 Bertie Scott
 * July 23 1958
 * align='left'|W-TKO
 * align=left| Sophia Gardens, Pavilion Cardiff
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * align='center'|Debut
 * align=left|🇳🇬 M Uzubu
 * July 22 1958
 * align='left'|W-TKO
 * align=left| Sophia Gardens, Pavilion Cardiff
 * align='left'|W-TKO
 * align=left| Sophia Gardens, Pavilion Cardiff

Medals, awards and recognitions

 * He won a bronze medal from Royal Life Saving Society in United Kingdom in 1962.