Rugumayo breaks 12-year Uganda Golf Open jinx, dedicates win to King Oyo
“I'd like to appreciate my fellow pros who moved from different countries to come and support us. And to my fellow pros here in Uganda. We have the homework to do. As our fellow pros moved from their home countries to support us, it would be fair that when they have tournaments, we also go and support them," Rugumayo said.
Ronald Rugumayo and his manager Peter Mujuni (left) are showered after the the final round of the Uganda Professionals Open at Kitante, September 5 2026. (Credit: Michael Nsubuga)
As Tooro mourns the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, Ronald Rugumayo gave the kingdom and Uganda's golfing fraternity a reason to celebrate, ending a 12-year wait for a Ugandan winner of the Uganda Professionals Golf Open.
Rugumayo, a product of Tooro Golf Club, won the Johnnie Walker Uganda Professionals Golf Open at Uganda Golf Club after a dramatic final round on Saturday, carding 4-under 279 across 72 holes.
His triumph earned him sh31.5 million, as he finished four shots clear of Nigeria’s Godwin Okoko, who took second place with 283 and pocketed sh21 million.
Rugumayo had earlier won the Absa Pro-Am, pocketing sh3.4 million. Kenya’s Greg Snow finished third on 284, taking home sh12.6 million, while Tanzania’s Nuru Mollel and Rwanda’s Celestine Nsanzuwera, who finished fourth and fifth respectively, claimed sh9 million and sh7 million.
Zambian amateur Dominic Musonda, who had earlier won the amateurs’ open, finished joint sixth alongside former champions Robson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe and Dayne Moore of Zambia.
Rugumayo, who won the event as an amateur in 2017, led the opening round with a 3-under 69 before Nigerian Sunday Olapade shot a second-round 5-under 67 to finish joint top with him on 139 strokes each after two rounds.
But it was another Nigerian, Okoko, who shot the best score of the third round, a 5-under 67, to take a two-stroke lead into the final round on Saturday.
UBL Managing Director Felicite Nson (2nd left) and UBL Board Chairman Jimmy Mugerwa (2nd right) and UGU president Jackson Were (right) and a Safari Tour representative present prizes to Ronald Rugumayo after the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open Championship at Kitante, September 5, 2026. (Credit: Michael Nsubuga)
The battle for the top spot in the Safari Tour event came down to Okoko and Rugumayo in the final round.
Okoko’s lead widened to three strokes early on when Rugumayo bogeyed the par-4 second hole, but he could not sustain it after also bogeying holes six and seven, where his opponent made par.
That came after a long wait on the eighth fairway when his ball, earlier adjudged to have gone out of bounds, was found in bounds.
Meanwhile, Kenyans Dismas Indiza and Samuel Njoroge were also within striking distance, two strokes off the lead. However, Indiza went out of bounds on the eighth hole, and his double bogey killed his momentum.
Rugumayo then sought relief for his third shot, which was resting on stones on a pathway, and miraculously chipped in for a birdie that gave him the momentum he desperately needed. He followed it up with another birdie on the par-3 ninth.
He tore through the back nine, unleashing electrifying shots and sinking massive birdies on holes 14, 15 and 17 to pull away from the competition.
“First of all, I would say it's a dream come true. As a professional golfer, this has been one of the tournaments that I've always dreamt of winning,” Rugumayo said after receiving his trophy from Uganda Breweries Board Chairman Jimmy Mugerwa.
“Yesterday (Friday), I struggled a bit. Most especially on the last four holes, I finished two over. When I went home, I was not settled because of the way I was finishing. I called one of my mental coaches, Phil from Switzerland, and he told me to treat the last four holes as an opportunity to chase my dream, and it has paid off,” he said.
“So, that one alone changed my mentality, changed my mindset. So, when I reached those four holes, I just looked at those four holes as an opportunity to win my first Ugandan Professionals Open. And indeed, when you look at the way I played those holes, I should say it's the way I've won this tournament. Because today alone, I finished three under in the last four holes,” Rugumayo noted.
“I dedicate this win to our late King Oyo and all people from the Tooro sub-region who are going through painful moments mourning our king. Secondly, as you all know, it's been 12 years since a Ugandan won a Ugandan Open. So, this is not my win alone. It goes to all Ugandans, everyone that loves the game of golf and everyone that supports the game that we all love,” he said.
Ronald Rugumayo pumps his fist after sinking in the last ball during the final round of the Uganda Professionals Open at Kitante, September 5 2026. (Credit: Michael Nsubuga)
“I'd like to appreciate my fellow pros who moved from different countries to come and support us. And to my fellow pros here in Uganda. We have the homework to do. As our fellow pros moved from their home countries to support us, it would be fair that when they have tournaments, we also go and support them," Rugumayo said.
This was the fourth win for Rugumayo in five events in the space of one month, following earlier triumphs in the Uganda Golf Club (UGC) Ladies Professionals' Open, the Watoto “Hope on the Green” charity tournament and the Absa Pro-Am, in addition to a second-place finish in the Absa Chairman’s Bell tournament won by Grace Kasango.
Ronald Rugumayo (UG) 69 70 74 66 279
Godwin Okoko (NIG) 76 68 67 72 283
Greg Snow (KEN) 75 71 68 70 284
Nuru Morell (TZ) 71 71 72 71 285
Celestine Nsanzuwera (RW) 72 72 74 68 286
Dominic Musonda (ZAM) 75 70 72 70 287
Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 76 69 71 71 287
Dayne Moore (ZAM) 76 70 68 73 287
Willy Deus Kitata (UG) 71 75 75 67 288
Sunday Olapade (NG) 72 67 77 72 288
Dismas Indiza (KEN) 72 69 72 75 288