Bagalana bags first pro victory on home course at the Kakira Open

Professional golfer Hussein Bagalana shot an overall 5-under 67 to win the Kakira Golf Open Professionals event at Jinja Club on Friday.

This was the first professional victory for the Jinja Club-bred golfer, who doubles as an African rap, soul, reggae, and dancehall recording (AfroDance) artist, composer, and record producer.

He edged out another Jinja product, Grace Kasango, by a stroke for the biggest cut of sh6m in prize money, finally breaking through in the game he cherishes but has all along struggled to make an impact in the paid ranks since joining seven years ago.

“It feels good to win my first tournament, and it is beyond words. This was my first physical win, but mentally, I have always won,” Bagalana stated.

Rookie in the paid ranks Ibrahim Ssemakula shot 69 to finish third overall—his best so far since starting out early this year—while Rodel Gaita (72), Emma Ogwang (73), and Silver Opio (73) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the amateur’s division, Joseph Cwinyaai carded an overall 2-under 214 in 54 holes to win his eighth World Amateur Golf Ranking event this year and consequently improve his current 199th world ranking.

Fresh from winning the Kinyara Golf Open championship, Cwinyaai kept up his perfect season by taking first place and extending his wins to ten this season and to 16 since last year.

Lulet Sande finished second, seven strokes away from the winning score, while Ibrahim Bagalana and Abdallah Kakooza were eight and nine strokes off.

Kakira Open Pros: Top five

Hussein Bagalana 67

Grace Kasango 68

Ibrahim Ssemakula 69

Rodel Gaita 72

Emma Ogwang 73

Silver Opio 73

Amateurs: Top ten

Joseph Cwinyaai 71 74 69 214

Lulet Sande 72 73 76 221

Ibrahim Bagalana 72 73 77 222

Abdallah Kakooza 75 78 70 223

Ronald Otim 76 73 75 224

James Ssekulima 73 77 74 224

Lawrence Walakira 77 71 79 227

Joseph Ngobi 73 76 78 227

Anthony Otukei 74 77 76 227

Phillip Kasango 77 77 74 228