Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s boxing fraternity is still in shock following the sudden death of young national team boxer Alex Kanaabi, who died after suffering the effects of what doctors described as a “very strong poison,” according to his family. He was 23.
Kanaabi, a rising light middleweight prospect, last stepped into the ring on Boxing Day, where he clinched the league title, his final competitive bout before his death in the early hours of January 8, 2026.
Speaking to the media at their home, a woman identifying herself as Kanaabi’s mother dismissed the assault narrative, saying her son died from poisoning. She said she last saw him at about 9:00 pm on Tuesday night when he went to sleep in his house.
“He had not been seen the whole of Wednesday. I returned from work at around 6:00 pm and took a nap. Later, the children came and told me Alex was in his house but was not answering phone calls,” she said.
“I went to his door and heard abnormal breathing. We forced the door open and found him motionless, with foam coming out of his mouth. One of his hands was trapped beneath his body. I immediately called for transport to take him to the hospital.”
She said Kanaabi was first taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kireka, where they were advised to seek a facility capable of conducting specialised heart tests. “At Healthstone Medical Centre in Banda, they put him on oxygen, but there was no improvement. He was then referred to Nsambya Hospital,” she said.
At Nsambya, doctors diagnosed Kanaabi with severe poisoning.
“They told us the poison had badly damaged his brain, which caused all other organs to fail. They said his chances of survival were very minimal and suggested ICU admission, but there was no space,” the mother recounted.
The family later tried to secure intensive care at nearby facilities before rushing him to Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, where his condition deteriorated further.
A rising star’s dream cut short
Kanaabi’s death comes at the peak of what many described as a fast-rising boxing career. In October last year, he represented Uganda at the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championships, where he won a bronze medal, cementing his status as one of the country’s most promising young fighters.
He had also become a regular feature in elite domestic competitions, earning praise for his discipline, power and ring intelligence, traits that saw him tipped as a future continental title contender.
In July last year, Kanaabi drew national attention when he made a peculiar visit to Hadijah Namyalo, popularly known as Chief Muzzukulu, at the Office of the National Chairman (ONC).
Days later, Kanaabi faced off with Nerrick Bulabe Tumusiime of Kololo High School Boxing Club in a friendly exhibition bout. After defeating his opponent, Kanaabi walked away with a cash prize of USD 600, personally handed to him by Hajjat Namyalo, in recognition of his talent and potential.
The moment elevated his profile beyond the boxing ring, with many viewing him as a symbol of youthful promise and resilience in Ugandan sport.
The young boxer’s death now raises fresh questions as police await medical and forensic findings to establish how he ingested the poison and under what circumstances.
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