Can Kabasweka complete a hat-trick of Namulonge ladies open titles?

Peace Kabasweka will be eager to complete a hat-trick of Namulonge Ladies Open Golf Championship wins when the event returns for its fifth edition, at the Mary Louise Simkins Memorial Golf Course, May 21-23.

The three-day World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) tournament, sponsored by Equity Bank, Kachain Logistics, Munig Engineering Services, Pepsi and Castle Lite, features players from various categories, including Silver, Bronze, and subsidiaries. Kabasweka, who plays in the silver category, first won the event in 2023, then won her second last year. 

She will feature in the main 54-hole event alongside perennial contenders Meron Kyomugisha, Lillian Koowe, Joyce Kisembo, Janet Kabayonga, Harriet Kitaka and Gloria Mbaguta, among others, in the elite field that will be fighting it out for a sh3m kitty. Those in the bronze category will play 36 holes on Friday and Saturday, while the subsidiary categories will take to the course over one round on Saturday. 

This year’s event was launched on Tuesday at Numulonge with all the sponsors’ representatives at the press conference: Damalie Balungi, Ishimaiel Nkurunungi, Tash Mugisha, and Gerald Daison Museeta committing to the event with cash and in-kind offers. These were in the company of the lady captain, Sheila Aine, and the club members Ceasar Scott Balore, Kenneth Tumusiime, and the club’s captain, Tim Lwanga.

“We are well prepared for this tournament, because we have a strong team that we have worked with to ensure that we have a successful event, our course is excellent, our greens are good, and we can't wait to host all the golfers for this tournament,” Aine said.

The key highlight for this open is Equity Bank's commitment to support the club's expansion project through planting trees. For both the Ladies' Open and the Equity Naro Open, Equity Bank is offering to provide trees for each player to plant.

“Equity Bank exists to transform lives, give dignity, and expand opportunities for wealth creation. In doing so, we have taken up the cause of supporting women in Golf by encouraging the Equity Ladies to join the game,” Balungi stated.

She will lead a team of 15 ladies to the tournament. The club captain, Tim Lwanga, said they expect over 120 players on the course, which is in pristine condition. The greens are very good with the drains and the course preparation. Everything is in perfect condition. The destination for the 3 days is the Mary Louise Simpkins Memorial Golf Club.”

Nkurunungi said by investing in the Namulonge golfing community, we are bridging the gap between the corporate stakeholders and the local sports development to drive economic growth through local sports tourism,” Nkurunungi said.

We are proud to sponsor the Namulonge Ladies Open and look forward to a successful tournament and a long-term partnership with the Club. We look forward to a successful tournament and wish each and every one of us the best of the tournament.”

Pepsi’s Mugisha, whose company will hydrate the players, said they were proud to support a tournament that advances women's participation in golf and creates a strong platform for connection, mentorship, professionalism and overall women's growth. 

“Sports build confidence, discipline and leadership, and we believe that women deserve equal visibility and opportunity in one or the other in such spaces. As a company, we are committed to supporting healthy and active lifestyles through Aquafina Water and the other range of products, and we are happy to share that with all the players and the caddies.

“In this way, our role is not only to sponsor but to add value, real value in the experience as we move forward. We commend the organisers and every participant for raising the standards of women's golf. CBL remains committed to partnerships that strengthen communities, especially the women, and promote inclusion.”