AFRIYEA launches Uganda’s first golf mental training for schools

A brave new business takes its first shot in Fort Portal as the AFRIYEA Golf Academy teams up with Phil Jenkins of Phil Jenkins Performance and Flowcode to launch Mind on the Fairway.

Over 12 weeks, this program will go beyond club grips and green reads to shape character. Through a mix of on-course drills and sit-down sessions, young participants will learn to name their feelings, lock in their focus, and shake off setbacks.

This isn’t just another junior golf program—it’s a groundbreaking effort to build emotional and mental resilience in 200 young players from five schools across this hill-framed Ugandan city. Picture a teenager lining up a crucial putt, heart racing, palms sweaty. Mind on the Fairway teaches them to pause, refocus, and roll with the challenge—skills that extend far beyond the course, helping them face pressure, stand taller, and rely on their teammates.

Phil Jenkins, the Swiss-based performance coach behind Phil Jenkins Performance, brings his expertise in developing champions to Uganda’s fairways. Known for mentoring elite athletes and advocating sports as a tool for growth, he sees golf’s untapped potential. “Golf mirrors life’s twists and turns,” Jenkins says.

Professional golfer Richard Baguma instructs pupils at one of the golf clinics at Tooro Club. Courtesy photo

“It teaches respect, fair play, and emotional control in adversity. With today’s global challenges, there’s no better time to equip kids with mental toughness.” He adds, “These are tomorrow’s trailblazers. Give them the right tools, and they’ll amaze you.”

Years ago, Jenkins played a round at Fort Portal’s Toro Club, captivated by Uganda’s vibrant golf scene. That experience revealed a sport on the verge of something greater—waiting for the right spark. Now, he’s back to help ignite it, seeing in these young players the future of golf, not just in Uganda but worldwide. Flowcode Golf adds cutting-edge tech to the mix, rounding out a powerful trio.

For Fort Portal’s youth, where Uganda’s lush western landscapes meet big aspirations, golf’s highs and lows are about to take on deeper meaning. “Golf demands steadiness, whether you’re celebrating a birdie or shaking off a bogey,” says Isaiah Mwesige, founder of AFRIYEA Golf Academy. “We want these juniors to carry that strength into life’s challenges. We’re not just shaping golfers—we’re raising resilient young people.”

Fort Portal, a city of dreamers and boundless potential, is the perfect setting for this initiative. The program’s real power lies in its ripple effects: a player who stays calm under tournament pressure might draw on that same poise during a school exam or family hardship. A child who connects with teammates on the driving range could one day help rebuild trust in their community. Here, golf becomes more than a game—it’s a classroom for life.

AFRIYEA Golf Academy has spent years breaking down barriers, introducing clubs to kids who never imagined themselves on a course. But skill alone isn’t enough—courage matters just as much. Launching with 200 students in 2025, Mind on the Fairway aims to prove what’s possible before expanding nationwide.