A new ‘Platinum’ category for golfers above 80 years has been added to this year’s edition of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCCA) Seniors Open Golf Tournament due at Kitante, December 2-3.

The development was revealed by the Uganda Senior Golfing Society Chairman Charles Katarikawe who was alongside other association members; David Balaka (secretary), Arthur Gakwandi, Grace Kabonero, and Frederick Kasumba (treasurer) during a press conference to launch the tournament at the Uganda Golf Club on Tuesday.

UCCA that was represented by the Manager of Public Affairs Vianney Luggya and the Manager of Marketing and Commercial Services Marvin Kagoro unveiled a sponsorship cheque of sh15m for the annual tournament which is one of three activities organized in celebration of the International Aviation Week which is celebrated annually from December 1-7 of every year.

Katarikawe said the addition is aimed at encouraging the golfers in that age group to keep coming to the course and playing as well as to show that as long as you’re able to walk, you can play golf.

He said apart from the platinum category, the rest of the seniors will compete in the Gold category (70-79 years), Silver category (65-69 years), and the Bronze category of 55-64 years.

The senior ladies will also compete in their category with the one emerging with the best overall net score in the men's and ladies’ competition over the two days (36 holes) being crowned. This is in addition to the subsidiary categories in the traditional men's and lady’s groups A-C.

“The objective of our association is to promote the game of golf among our members and to organise competitive golfing activities in Uganda and this is our last tournament having organized earlier ones in the north, east, and central regions earlier,” Katarikawe stated.

Luggya said this was an important event for them because golfers are frequent fliers and users of their facilities at Entebbe International Airport and that therefore it was an honour to give back to their key stakeholders who associate with them in many different ways.

He said Aviation Week is celebrated in memory of a series of meetings that were held in Chicago, which culminated in the signing of the Chicago convention that gave birth to the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (IACAO) which oversees aviation operations across the globe.

“IACAO encourages member states to hold visible activities that promote aviation as a way of emphasizing their role in promoting; safety, security, and efficiency in their transport operations across the globe.

“We hold several activities across the globe and this golfing event is one of our major events in addition to a stakeholders’ engagement breakfast at Serena Hotel on December 5 and the Rwabushenyi Memorial Chess Championship. Cyril Rwabushenyi is a former director of airports-UCAA,” Luggya stated.

Kagoro said UCAA will also field a team composed of himself, Paul Kalemba, Michael Kalemba, and Collin Aritua.

Over 200 golfers are expected to compete in the different categories over the two days of action.

James Ssekajugo and Esther Okullo are the defending champions of the event sponsored by Crown Beverages, Uganda Breweries, Safari Trackers, Fairway Hotel, and the president of the Africa Golf Federation Johnson Omolo.