Golfers and fans gather for Lugazi Sugar's 100-year celebration tournament

The picturesque 18-hole Lugazi Golf Course will be the place to be for golf players and fans this weekend during the Lugazi Sugar Centenary Golf Tournament.

Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club will also unveil the first 702-yard par 5 course, anticipated to be the only one of its kind in Africa.

The City Tyre and Plascon-sponsored tournament will take place from November 21 to November 23 at the refurbished Lugazi Golf Course, according to Joseph Paul, the chief executive in charge of procurement at the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited – Lugazi.

“The tournament marks 100 years of Lugazi Sugar, established in 2024. We will also take this opportunity to open the new green and fairway that we have been refurbishing for the past five years,” Paul told journalists at the launch of the event at the City Tyre head office in the industrial area on Monday morning.

City tyre officials, Herbert Hashasha (left) the marketing manager, Fredrick Mwaluk and SV Kumar (from the right) handing over the trophy to Joseph Paul, the chief executive in charge of procurement at Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited Lugazi. Photo: Silvano Kibuuka

The 2024 Uganda Open reigning champion, Regan Akena, is among the favourite players to watch and compete with at the event.

Over 150 players are expected to participate, starting with the professional rounds on November 21 and 22, covering 36 holes, while the gross amateurs will compete in 54 holes from November 21-23.

Paul also mentioned that the centenary tournament will serve as a curtain-raiser for the 2025 Uganda Golf Open, which will be hosted by the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club.

“The club has a good background in golf and boasts the 2023 and 2024 Uganda Open champions, Godfrey Nsubuga and Regan Akena, respectively,” noted Paul.

The head of marketing at City Tyre, Herbert Bashasha, announced at the launch that they have contributed UGX 8 million for the prize awards in addition to the trophies.

“We have also arranged two seven-gear mountain bikes for lucky winners in a draw for the fans,” noted Bashasha.

He said they have partnered with Lugazi Sugar for the centenary celebrations due to their long-standing partnership of over 20 years.

He also praised the sugar company for its long history of sponsoring sports and nurturing sportsmen in various disciplines in the country, including football and baseball.