Nsanzuwera wins the Uganda Golf Open Professionals Championship in Lugazi

Rwandan professional golfer Celestine Nsanzuwera is blazing a trail of success.

On Saturday, he added yet another trophy to his ever-expanding collection by clinching the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open Professionals championship at the scenic Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club.

This year, the Rwandan has already bagged wins in the Sunshine Development tournament qualifier at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha, the fourth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing at the Diamonds Leisure Golf Club in Diani, and the Rwanda Open.

Rwandan Celestine Nsanzuwera (2nd left) poses with UBL Chairman Jimmy Mugerwa (left), UBL MD Anthony Kilonzo (center), UGU president Jackson Were and ISUZU's Senior Sales Manager Margaret Murangi (right) after he won the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open Professionals championship at the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In Lugazi, Nsanzuwera fired a remarkable 6-under 278 across 72 holes, seizing the Ugandan crown and the lion’s share (sh31m) of the sh150m prize pool. Riding high after his recent SunDev East Africa Swing SportsBiz Africa Championship victory at Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, the unstoppable golfer from the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' conquered the notoriously tough Lugazi Hills with flair.

He notched 20 birdies, 41 pars over the four rounds to beat his nearest challenger, Kenyan Njoroge Kibugu, to the title by three strokes as his chasers after the third round: Kenyan Dismas Indiza, Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi, and Uganda’s Marvin Kibirige collapsed along the way. Runner up Kibugu walked away with sh21m.

Last year’s runners up in Entebbe, Nsanzuwera began with a 2-over 73, trailing round-one leader Ronald Rugumayo of Uganda, who posted a 67. Nsanzuwera then improved to a 3-under 69 in the second round, followed by a tournament-best 65 in the third. A level-par 71 in the final round secured his victory. But it was Nsanzuwera’s third round’s 6-under 65 that made the difference.

Rwandan Celestine Nsanzuwera (center) shows off his prizes as the galaxy of sponsors representatives applaud after the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open Professionals championship at the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“I want to thank each and everyone here for this win. I have been playing up down since the first round but my third round 6-under 65 brought me to the top and gave me the motivation and belief that I could win the championship,” Nsanzuwera said.

“So, I came with the mentality today to win and I played safe, didn’t attack and that helped me win. I feel good to win three tournaments in a row. I thank my sponsors and everyone who is involved in this event. I thank God, I made it,” Nsanzuwera stated.

Despite playing with two former Uganda Open champions in the ‘pressure group’ Nsanzuwera stuck to his routine and wasn’t shaken even when he bogeyed holes 5,6 and 8.

Marvin Kibirige from Namulonge was Uganda’s best player finishing joint fourth with two-time champion Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe after they each finished with a total of 1-under 283 over the 72 holes.

Rwandan Celestine Nsanzuwera (center) poses with his prizes alongside UBL MD Anthony Kilonzo (center-back), UGU president Jackson Were (4th left) and UBL Chairman Jimmy Mugerwa (3rd right) as other sponsors representatives look on after the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open Professionals championship at the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Up to the 14th hole Kibirige who played with a wrist injury had put on a good show and was gunning for second place but three bogeys in a row on holes 14, 15 and 16 had him slip to finish fourth with a 1-over 72 as Kibugu who finished with 70 and Cameroonian Pristhy Fon Nji who enjoyed a bogey-free round wrapped up third place with a 6-under 65. Kibirige praised Nsazuwera for his consistence. “He deserved to win because he played well, and I congratulate him.”

Business man Dismas Indiza and MTN and Johnnie Walker-sponsored Ugandan Ronald Rugumayo had last rounds to forget as the collapsed in the final bend with 10-over 81 and 7-over 78 that saw them finish tenth and eleventh respectively after registering promising first and second rounds.

Uganda Amateur Champion Joseph Cwinyaai was the best amateur in the event with a sixth-place finish, taking home the biggest share of sh4m for the six who made the cut alongside the 31 pros who contested for the cash.

The champion was crowned by outgoing Uganda Breweries Managing Director Andrew Kilonzo alongside chairman Jimmy Mugerwa.

“We are going to continue our involvement in sports, culture, music because we are with our consumers wherever they are because we are all about celebrating life everyday and everywhere,” Kilonzo stated.

“This tournament has brought vibrance and opportunity to communities here in Lugazi we have seen businesses booming; hotels, retail, transport benefiting from the footprint that this marathon has brought over the last one month,”

Mugerwa noted that the event continues to define excellency and sportsmanship before he thanked the caddies, the hosts and the co-sponsors for making the event a success.

“Golf is more than a game; it is a metaphor for life. It teaches us patience, precision and integrity,” Mugerwa stated before he called on the government to continue supporting the game so that it is elevated to the level of the Magical Kenya Open.

The 2025 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship is co-sponsored by Absa Bank Uganda, Aquafina, Isuzu Mac East Africa, Uganda Tourism Board, Medisell Uganda and MTN MoMo. 

Final leaderboard: Top ten

Celestine Nsanzuwera (RW) 73 69 65 71 278

Njoroge Kibugu (KEN) 74 68 69 70 281

Pristy Fon Nji (CAM) 75 72 69 66 282

Marvin Kibirige (UG) 75 69 67 72 283

Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 71 72 67 73 283

Joseph Cwinyaai (UG-a) 74 68 74 70 286

David Kamulindwa (UG) 74 71 72 71 288

Greg Snow (KEN) 70 75 72 71 288

Visitor Mapwanya (ZIM) 75 70 74 70 288

Dismas Indiza (KEN) 69 72 68 78 291