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Uganda Professional Golfer Association chairman and legendary golfer Deo Akope has launched a foundation to nurture and develop young talent.

He wants to turn the burning curiosity with which he started the game in the early 90s with a cassava stick and improvised balls made out of rubber bands to inspire the upcoming generation which is more privileged than he was.

Akope, who grew up on the periphery of the Entebbe course, says this has been his dream all along which only came to a reality on Saturday with the foundation's official launch by 211 golfers who competed in the ‘Akope Challenge’.

“I want to use my story to tell the young ones where I came from and the path that I took to where I am. I have never dreamt of being where I am right now,” Akope said.

“I have always dreamt of being at a higher level than where I’m currently. I might not achieve what I wanted to achieve but using my story maybe someone along the way will achieve what I wanted to achieve in life,”.

He said the foundation is purely looking at tapping and nurturing talent for kids between the ages of 10-18 and seeing how they can develop them in the game.

“Because what I have realised is that there is more than just playing in this sport, there is more involved to succeed in this game. So some of these kids have not been guided along the way but there are lots of things that we need to teach them so that they can achieve what they dream of achieving,” Akope stated.

“We also have a challenge with our youth development programs because there is no follow-up. But we need to follow up with these talents in conjunction with the Uganda Golf Union by identifying the schools where these kids are and creating a program that can run for a year so that even when the kids are at school they can continue practicing and playing,” he said.

Adding that, the foundation will also help with equipment and ensure children continue to play even when they are at school by linking them to nearby golf courses so that there are links between the school and the kids and also expose them to tournaments within and outside the country.

Dennis Kahindi one of the foundation directors said Akope has influenced almost the current generation of golfers through his tutorage and coaching, his game, and talking to the golfers the same kind of influence that they now want him to pass on to the kids. 

"We want the foundation to go to schools and identify this talent that might not be as privileged to get inspired through this foundation," Kahindi said before he thanked the golfers for supporting the event.

The three-day event was sponsored by; Capital Radio, Aviator Africa, Numax Cinemas, Upscale Events, Twelve Foods, Street Club, Orchard Interiors, and MARSH.

The foundation directors include Dennis Kahindi, Charles Odere, Annette Kiconco, Katy Kabenge, Doreen Mwesigye, Hebert Kamuntu, and former UGU president, Moses Matsiko.