Sports
Rugumayo cements dominance with POA SDT triumph in Entebbe
The Fort Portal golfer's victory marked his fifth win in six tournaments over two months, following a second-place finish to Grace Kasango at the Chairman's Bell tournament at Uganda Golf Club in July.
Ronald Rugumayo celebrates with the winners' trophy at the Entebbe Club course, September 19, 2026. (Photo by Michael Nsubuga)
By: Michael Nsubuga, Journalist @New Vision
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Ronald Rugumayo is on a remarkable run! The pride of Fort Portal dazzled once more, winning the first Pearl of Africa Golf Series Sunshine Development Tour Championship at Entebbe Club on Saturday.
The Fort Portal golfer's victory marked his fifth win in six tournaments over two months, following a second-place finish to Grace Kasango at the Chairman's Bell tournament at Uganda Golf Club in July.
Since July 18, Rugumayo has maintained strong form, winning the UGC Ladies Open Professionals event, Watoto Charity Golf Tournament, Absa Pro-Am, Uganda Open Championship and, most recently, the MTN Pro Tees.
Ronald Rugumayo (2nd left) receives the winners' trophy from Silence Zondi Makhubele (High Commissioner-designate of South Africa) as POA chairman Edward Nyatia (left) and UGU president Jackson Were look on at the Entebbe Club course, September 19, 2026. (Photo by Michael Nsubuga)
He posted notable under-par scores in each of those events and has earned more than sh50m during the run.
In the first Uganda Professionals World Golf Ranking event, Rugumayo earned sh15m after posting a 13-under 200 over 54 holes, finishing four strokes ahead of Malawi's Paul Adams and Nigeria's Godwin Okoko, who tied for second at 9-under 204 and took home sh7m each.
Rugumayo recorded 16 birdies, two eagles and only seven bogeys over three rounds, securing the largest share of the sh70m prize money.
He opened with a 4-under 67, followed by a 7-under 67, and finished with a 69. Leading by three strokes entering the final round, he increased his advantage by birdying the par-5 first hole and eventually extended his lead to six strokes before the turn after further birdies on holes 5, 7 and 9, with his only blemish a bogey on the par-3 eighth.
Another bogey on the 10th checked his momentum as the chasing pack, including Pickering Slade and Englishman Millar Matt, made their own inroads with superb putting. But Rugumayo held on, and when he birdied the par-4 14th, all was done and dusted.
“Winning here in front of so many Ugandans means the world to me. This victory isn't just mine; it's for every Ugandan, especially since we're hosting the first World Ranking Tournament as POA,” Rugumayo said. “It's a huge deal. It's not just for me, but for all Ugandans, for all the upcoming golfers, and for everyone who looks up to me,” Rugumayo, who also earned 210 Order of Merit tour points, stated. The win placed him seventh in the order of merit.
He attributed his current form to discipline and a change in his mental approach. “I've really focused on building my mental strength, and just like anything else, you have to work at it. You can't just expect it to be there; you have to practice it. This practice can take many forms, like making your practice rounds really intense and competitive.”
“I had a tough start; in the end, there was nothing I could do to change it. I just had to pull myself together, give myself a pep talk, stay in the moment, and keep pushing. As I did that, I started feeling more self-assured. I actually finished the back nine really strong.”
Rugumayo recorded 16 birdies, two eagles and only seven bogeys over three rounds, securing the largest share of the sh70m prize money.
He opened with a 4-under 67, followed by a 7-under 67, and finished with a 69. Leading by three strokes entering the final round, he increased his advantage by birdying the par-5 first hole and eventually extended his lead to six strokes before the turn after further birdies on holes 5, 7 and 9, with his only blemish a bogey on the par-3 eighth.
Another bogey on the 10th checked his momentum as the chasing pack, including Pickering Slade and Englishman Millar Matt, made their own inroads with superb putting. But Rugumayo held on, and when he birdied the par-4 14th, all was done and dusted.
“Winning here in front of so many Ugandans means the world to me. This victory isn't just mine; it's for every Ugandan, especially since we're hosting the first World Ranking Tournament as POA,” Rugumayo said. “It's a huge deal. It's not just for me, but for all Ugandans, for all the upcoming golfers, and for everyone who looks up to me,” Rugumayo, who also earned 210 Order of Merit tour points, stated. The win placed him seventh in the order of merit.
He attributed his current form to discipline and a change in his mental approach. “I've really focused on building my mental strength, and just like anything else, you have to work at it. You can't just expect it to be there; you have to practice it. This practice can take many forms, like making your practice rounds really intense and competitive.”
“I had a tough start; in the end, there was nothing I could do to change it. I just had to pull myself together, give myself a pep talk, stay in the moment, and keep pushing. As I did that, I started feeling more self-assured. I actually finished the back nine really strong.”
“I owe all of this to my time in South Africa. As we know, South Africa is basically the home of golf in Africa. So, being there, playing on what's easily the toughest, most competitive golf tour on the continent, it really does something special to shape me, you know, mentally, physically, and helps my game get better.”
David Kamulindwa and Abraham Ainamani finished in the top 10 after finishing in a five-way tie for seventh place, earning sh2m each.
Willy Deus Kitata, Phillip Kasozi, Grace Kasango, Rodell Gaita, Silver Opio, Steven Odong, Deo Akope, Vincent Byamukama and Andrew Ssekibejja, as well as amateur golfers Anthony Otukei and Joseph Cwinyaai, also made the cut to play in the last round.
Next for Rugumayo and the other professionals is the Rwanda Open at the Kigali Golf Club from September 24-27, before another Sunshine Development Tour event in Nigeria.
Beyond the prize money, the golfers are fighting for valuable Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
The Entebbe Championship was the sixth of 12 SDT events in the 2026-27 season, designed to create more competitive opportunities and strengthen the pathway for emerging golfers.
David Kamulindwa and Abraham Ainamani finished in the top 10 after finishing in a five-way tie for seventh place, earning sh2m each.
Willy Deus Kitata, Phillip Kasozi, Grace Kasango, Rodell Gaita, Silver Opio, Steven Odong, Deo Akope, Vincent Byamukama and Andrew Ssekibejja, as well as amateur golfers Anthony Otukei and Joseph Cwinyaai, also made the cut to play in the last round.
Next for Rugumayo and the other professionals is the Rwanda Open at the Kigali Golf Club from September 24-27, before another Sunshine Development Tour event in Nigeria.
Beyond the prize money, the golfers are fighting for valuable Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
The Entebbe Championship was the sixth of 12 SDT events in the 2026-27 season, designed to create more competitive opportunities and strengthen the pathway for emerging golfers.