Can a Ugandan pro golfer top the sh150m battle in the Uganda Open

It has been ten years since a Ugandan won the Uganda Professionals Open.

This year’s sh150m prize money Johnnie Walker-sponsored event that tees off today at Entebbe Club presents yet another opportunity for the Ugandans to add to that piece of history but most importantly cash in from the bounty.

Since Deo Akope’s win in 2014, the top cash prizes have gone to Zambia’s Madalisto Muthiya in 2015 and 2019, South African Joshua Seale in 2016, Portuguese Stephen Ferreira in 2017, Robson Chinhoi in 2020 and 2022, Kenyan Jastas Madoya in 2021 and to six-time winner Kenyan Dismas Indiza who took the 2018 and 2023 crowns and is the defending champion.

Ronald Rugumayo in action. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

This year’s fight for the top spot will be led by Ronald Rugumayo, whose game and life since ‘making the cut’ in this year’s Magical Kenya Open has seen him play in many international events, including in the Sunshine Tour thus gaining the necessary exposure to compete at the highest level.

“I’m well prepared mentally and physically and I look forward to what the week holds for me,” Rugumayo said.

“I have been playing regularly and I must say I’m in the competitive zone and ready for the week,”

The Uganda Open is the first leg of the Safari Tour and beyond the Shs150m kitty, golfers will seek to garner points for the order of merit from which the top 10 will qualify for next year’s Magical Kenya Open.

Akope leads a crop of Entebbe Club-bred golfers like Vincent Byamukama, Martin Ochaya, Herman Mutebi, Davis Kato, Willy Kitata, Silver Opio, Emma Ogwang, Bulhan Matovu and Samuel Kato, and lady golfers Irene Nakalembe and Flavia Namakula and those that are now Entebbe-based like David Kamulindwa.

Robson Chinhoi

“I can't say much about my game now because I have been off the game for six months now and just resumed competition golf because I didn’t want to push myself that much but I will give myself a chance for whatever happens because I’m not a hundred percent fit, but at least I’m able to compete now,” Akope reasoned.

“But the Entebbe course requires a lot of patience because it is a long course and the holes are tight which calls for pre-planning with every shot otherwise you can put yourself in big trouble in the pine trees,” Akope noted.

He said he expects the Ugandan pros to have maintained their training routines in preparation for the event that has attracted three former winners.

Ronald Otile who won the event as an amateur in 2015 is also confident of a good performance in Entebbe.

“I’m well prepared because I have been practicing and the most important thing is to know how to play the course. When you know how to play the course, everything is easy,” Otile said.

“The Entebbe course is one of my best courses in Uganda and I have always performed well there in all the big tournaments. So all I promise is victory and to my fans great entertainment on the course,” Otile stated.

Kenyan Mutahi Njoroge who will be playing the Entebbe course for the first time said he was looking forward to enjoying the course with the hope that it can lead to good results.

“My friends have told me about the Entebbe course and how tight it is with its pine trees but I think it is going to be a good week and a good test,” Njoroge who has been playing on the Sunshine Tour said.

With an increased purse of sh150m ($40,000), the event has drawn interest from Ivory Coast’s Jean-Romaric Djezou Kouassi, Ghana’s Lucky Ayisah Soko Soko, Nigeria’s Andrew Oche, Zambia’s Dezzie Ngandu and from Zimbabwe Visitor Mapwanya, Robson Chinhoi and Michelle Munyanyi and a host of other Kenyan professionals like Njoroge Kibugu who was among the first Kenyans to step in Entebbe.

Other Ugandans in contention include Rodell Gaita, Abraham Ainamani, Herman Mutaawe, Phillip Kasozi, Canary Kabise, Opio Onito, Hussein Bagalana, Happy Robert, James Koto, and Abbey Bagalana, among others including foreign entries from several countries.