Lake Victoria Serena to host this year's East Africa KCB Golf Tour

Ugandan golfers will have another opportunity this year to compete in the KCB Bank East Africa Golf Tour Grand Finale in Kenya after they participate in the Ugandan leg of the annual event at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa on June 28. 

Last year, a ‘four-ball’ team consisting of Joseph Cwinyaai, Peace Kabasweka, Abdul Kakeeto, and Martha Babirye emerged as the overall winners of the 2024 Grand Finale, held at the Sigona Golf Club. The team scored a total of 106 Stableford points, outperforming a field of 230 golfers from across the East Africa region, and took home the grand prize of Ksh 1 million (sh28m). 

This year's tournament will also be played in four-balls, using the Stableford scoring system format. In this format, each player plays their own ball on every hole, and Stableford points are awarded individually. The best three scores from each team of four will be added together to form the team’s score for that hole. 

The team with the highest total Stableford score at the end of the round will be crowned champion, winning an all-expense paid trip and will qualify for the KCB East Africa Golf Tour final in Nairobi in December.

This year’s event under the theme; ‘Roar on the green’ was launched yesterday in Kigo during a press conference addressed by Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa’s golf manager Theodor van Rooyen, KCB Bank’s executive director Agnes Namyalo Mayanja, ICEA Lion Group’s Daniel Kairu, and Kenya Airways country manager Felix Mwangagi. The tournament will also undertake an environmental sustainability cause, with the bank planting 300 trees on the Serena course in alignment with KCB’s broader commitment of planting at least 15,000 trees around Uganda this year.

Namyalo, who presented a sh100m cheque for the event, noted that golf is uniquely placed to take a lead in sports sustainability because of the natural setting around the courses.

“Our purpose as KCB is for people, for better, and this is at the point at which we live as a bank. Under this year’s theme we are deepening our commitment to sustainability.”  

“Our role as one of the leading financial institutions is to address the most pressing challenges of our time, building a sustainable future: economically, socially, and environmentally,”

KCB bank’s executive director Agnes Namyalo (left) and ICEA Lion Group’s Daniel Kairu plant a tree at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“Every tree we plant symbolises growth, the commitment to long-term thinking, and values that resonate with us deeply as a financial institution. At KCB we also understand that creating a greener Uganda is a corrective effort. It requires collaboration and dedication

“We partner with golf clubs, local authorities, communities, and schools to ensure that each tree that is planted is cared for and nurtured,” Namyalo stated.

Daniel Kairu, ICEA Lion Group’s Head of Business Development and Marketing, said they believe in golf as a brand and its benefits in sustainability before he wished the golfers a memorable tournament.

Mwangagi said Kenya Airways will fly the two winners of the Ugandan leg to the grand finale in Kenya. He said part of their mission is to propel Africa’s prosperity by connecting its peoples, culture, and markets.

“Golf connects people, and it is in our interest to see the game develop in Uganda, and are happy to partner,” he said.

Theodor underlined the importance of the golf tour, saying it had united players across Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania, the other destinations the event is played helping in the strengthening of regional integration.

“Beyond trophies, KCB involvement is about more than just sport. It is about building talent, promoting women and youth in golf, and even supporting environmental sustainability at the different courses,” Theodor said.

“Golf in Uganda is growing. We have the talent, the passion and the courses. With KCB’s support, we can reach new heights, develop more young players, host international-level tournaments, and open up golf to even more people.”

He noted that a tournament at Serena will not only elevate the tour’s prestige, but also provide KCB with a strong, visible platform to engage regional leaders, clients, and stakeholders in a unique and luxurious setting.

“Just as we have seen KCB’s impact in Kenya, the return on investment is real, both in terms of business and impact, and so we say let us do more together,” Theodor stated.