Ugandan boxers plan to 'claim asylum for better training facilities' after vanishing from Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Five athletes have gone missing following the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with one reportedly planning to claim asylum in the UK.

The Games, which wrapped up on Sunday after 11 days of competition, was supposed to see four members of Uganda's boxing team fly home.

However, the quartet failed to appear for their return flight and a police investigation was opened to locate the boxers.

Local media named them as Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis and Emily Nakalema.

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A Pakistani boxer, who was named only as Qudratullah, also vanished.

Qudratullah was absent when team officials checked his room, according to Pakistan Today.

He did not board the flight back with his teammates.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Ugandan squad has since returned home.

A Team Uganda spokesman told outlets the delegation had no comment.

But Police Scotland confirmed it has been notified about the missing competitors.

A spokesman for the force said inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.

Early engagement is also taking place with the Home Office.

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Sports website NBS Sport said it had made contact with one of the four Ugandan boxers.

The athlete said the group planned to claim asylum and pursue boxing careers in Scotland, pointing out they felt training facilities and prospects there were far better than at home.

The unnamed boxer urged fellow Ugandans to show empathy and asked that people refrain from judging their decision to stay in the UK.

Glasgow 2026 spokeswoman Sophie Ashcroft addressed the scale of the event.

She said the Games welcomed 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories over the last fortnight.

Ms Ashcroft added that organisers continue working with Police Scotland, Border Force and UK Visas & Immigration as delegations leave the city to ensure a safe and secure conclusion.

Under the Games' length of stay policy, competitors had to vacate their accommodation within two nights of their sport's final event.

The coordination between organisers, police and immigration authorities reflects the scale of managing thousands of departing athletes and support staff.

However, this is not the first time athletes have gone missing after a Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Dozens disappeared following the 2014 edition, with some filing for asylum and others vanishing altogether.

Two Ugandan rugby players from 2014 were later found playing for a minor club in Cardiff.

One of them, Philip Pariyo, was later jailed for four and a half years for raping a woman in the Welsh capital.

The Home Office is understood to carry out heightened vetting ahead of major sporting events.

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