Kitata shines amid Ugandan struggles at Rwanda Open
South Africa’s Sunshine Tour players outperformed the rest, dominating the 72-hole event.
Willy Kitata was the best Ugandan in the Rwanda Golf Open. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Uganda's top golfers and other leading regional professionals faced tough competition at the Rwanda Open, held at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas from September 24 to 27.
South Africa’s Sunshine Tour players outperformed the rest, dominating the 72-hole event. Kyle De Beer won with a score of 29-under 261, finishing six strokes ahead and claiming his first Sunshine Tour title on Sunday.
The South Africans made a 1-2-3 with Kyle, joined by Estiaan Conradie and Daniel Cronje, who carded 21-under 267 and 20-under 268, respectively.
Uganda’s best player in the tournament was Willy Kitata, who finished the four rounds in 51st position with a total of 6-under 282. He produced under-par scores of 71, 69, and 70 before playing level in the last round. Kasango finished 56th after rounds of 71, 69, 73, and 70, while Gaita scored 69, 68, and 69 before finishing with a disappointing 8-over 80. All 67 players who made the cut finished with overall under-par scores except Shaunak Rama, who finished the four rounds level.
Rwanda’s number one, Celestine Nsanzuwera, who won the event last year before it became a Sunshine Tour event, was the best golfer from the region, finishing 25th overall at 14-under 274, the same score achieved by Jean Baptiste Hakizimana. Kenyan Greg Snow finished 38th at 12-under 276, while Rwandan amateur golfer Felix Dusabe also made the cut at 4-under 284.
The Ugandan pros, led by Rugumayo, will now head to Nigeria for the seventh of 12 Sunshine Development Tour events in the 2026-27 season, the Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic Championship, October 2-4. The event has a prize fund of $50,000 (sh195m).