Pearl of Africa Golf Series joins the Sunshine Development tournaments
Kyle Luca from the Sunshine Development Tour, said this is a great chance to acknowledge the positive trajectory of professional golf across Africa.
The tournament director Kyle Luca (seated-center) from the Sunshine Development Tour poses with L-R: Primrose Kobusingye, Julie Anena, Lynette Nakamya and Lillian Namono. Standing L-R: Adoch Luwum, Paul Habyarimana, Charles Rukundo, Edwin Tumusiime and Chelseay Kobusingye. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
The Pearl of Africa Golf Series (POA), a local amateur and professional tournament that started last year to enhance the competition calendar while offering elite amateurs and professionals a chance to compete regularly year-round, has joined the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing tournaments.
This year's series began in Entebbe in April, won by Joseph Cwinyaai and pro golfer Grace Kasango, and following talks between the POA team and the Sunshine Development Tour, Entebbe Club will host another leg with the Sunshine Development Tour and BET Tour on board.
The sh70m prize money competition is due September 17-19 and launched at Entebbe Club yesterday, joining the East Africa Swing tournaments that feature 16 events across 3 countries for the 2026/27 season, offering professional and elite amateur golfers official world ranking points.
The Sunshine Tour, one of the top golf tours of the world, expanded its footprint into Kenya and East Africa, introducing the Sunshine Development Tour last year after signing a three-year exclusive contract with leading sports marketing agency IMG Kenya Limited.
The tournament director Kyle Luca (right) from the Sunshine Development Tour addresses the press flanked by Exim Bank's Primrose Kobusingye, and the tournament referee Edwin Tumusiime. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
"Previously, most of our events were held in South Africa, specifically with the Betway Big Easy Tour. We're eagerly anticipating the Pearl of Africa event in September. I believe it's an excellent opportunity for Africa's top golfers to gather and compete," Luca said.
He said the top 12 golfers from the Betway Big Easy Tour, along with 5 of their top transformation players and 3 of their top female professionals from the South Africa Ladies Tour, will compete in the 54-hole event.
"Additionally, the Sunshine Development Tour is bringing 60 of their top players. We're also hoping to include 40 local Ugandan players in this strong field."
"I truly believe we're moving in a very promising direction, and I'm genuinely excited about this event for several reasons, but this is the primary one: Uganda has so much to offer in terms of golf courses and talented players; there are some really promising golfers emerging from Uganda. I think this event serves as a fantastic platform for the country and its people to recognise this potential. We're thrilled and grateful once again for the invitation."
Rukundo, who represented UGU president Jackson Were, said the union was fully committed to supporting this initiative among all the other initiatives that they have got in the country. "And we affirm that the expansion of this to our national calendar will provide competitive and consistent playing time for our amateurs and for our professionals and position Uganda as a premier golfing destination," Rukundo said.
"Today is another moment of pride for Ugandan golf, and a big thank you goes to Juliet Anena, the founder, and Dr. Edward Nyatia, the chairman, for this significant achievement. The Uganda Golf Union is observing a remarkable comeback in professional golf, thanks in part to POA and other related efforts. As you might have noticed from the recent weekends at the Uganda Golf Club, our crowds are growing, reaching an unprecedented level, and there's a lot of excitement surrounding the UPGA."
"This tournament is shaping up to be a legendary showdown, with world-class competition expected from our top players like Ronald Rugomayo and fierce rivalries involving players such as Grace Kasango, Rodel Gaita, David Kamulindwa (who will be playing on his home course), and Philip Kasozi," Rukundo stated.
POA founder Juliet Anena has, meanwhile, reiterated that the organisation will not tire in its vision to marry golf and sports tourism in the country. "Our plan is to give the whole package," Anena revealed. "We want to use elite golf to sell Uganda, but we also want to use the various opportunities in Uganda to support the development of golf in the best ways we can. We want a win-win for the sport and the Pearl of Africa."
The event is sponsored by Aquafina, Exim Bank, Afromania, Home Bliss, Vivo Energy, Uganda Tourism Board, The Meat Guy, and Case Medical Services.