Rugumayo sets the pace with Absa Pro-Am victory as Professionals Open starts

Ronald Rugumayo signalled strong potential by shooting a 5-under 67 to win the Absa Pro-Am Tournament at the Uganda Golf Club on Tuesday.

Playing with amateur golfers Paul Nuwagaba (36 points), Collins Nuwagira (32 points), and Diana Nabukenya (27 points) as the 'Dew Sweepers,' Rugumayo recorded six birdies and contributed 41 points to the team.

His performance positions him as a leading contender, alongside Grace Kasango, who scored 66 in the main event's precursor. Rugumayo earned sh3.5 million ahead of the sh150 million Johnnie Walker-sponsored main event, which began yesterday.

Abbey Bagalana’s 2-under-70 performance, which amounted to 38 points under NBS Sport-4, also won him sh2.5m. Godwill Bindeeba (40pts), Joseph Luyima (30), and Michael Bironse (29) were the other team members who beat the Pearl Marina-1 team on count-back for second.

The Absa Pro-Am winning team of Diana Nabukenya (left), Paul Nuwagaba (3rd left), Ronald Rugumayo (center) and Collins Nuwagira (2nd right) pose with Absa Bank's Keith Kalyegira (2nd left), David Wandera (3rd right) and Michael Segwaya (right) and UGU president Jackson Were (4th left) after the tornament at Kitante, September 1, 2026. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The Johnnie Walker-1 team, comprising Zimbabwean pro Fon Pristhy (38 pts), Darious Mugisha

Jennifer Opio (23) and Annita Amumpaire (37) came third. As tradition dictates, the top ten golfers (5 amateurs and 5 pros) from the event will be flown to participate in next year’s Magical Kenya Open (MKO). They include pro golfers Grace Kasango, Ronald Rugumayo, Andrew Oche Odoh, Gabriel Chibale, and Abbey Bagalana.

They must meet the MKO criteria to benefit from the sponsorship. The top amateurs from the event included Patricia Mbabazi, Isaiah Tugumenawe, Eddie Okila, Godwill Bindeeba, and Peace Musisi. These could be joined by Nelson Ojwiya, Angelo Wasike, Charles Lutwama, Allan Atuhairwe, Charity Nabwire, and Joshua Odong in case the pros don’t make the MKO cut.

The event was spiced up by two hole-in-ones from amateur golfer Nelson Ojwiya on hole 4 and from Zambian pro Gabriel Chibale on hole 17.

Absa Managing Director David Wandera, who also participated in the event alongside Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa and UGU President Jackson Were, said their continued sponsorship of the event remains about building a sustainable platform for excellence, mentorship, and opportunity.

“What makes the program specifically unique for us is the space it creates on the fairway. Pairing elite professionals with ambitious amateurs. Giving our pros the critical final warm-up before the Open starts while also allowing the amateurs a rare opportunity for high-stress learning,” Wandera noted. He said playing side-by-side accelerates amateurs’ skill development, sharpens game strategy, and elevates the standard of golf. Over 60 Ugandans have benefited from this initiative over the last couple of years.

“This is remarkable. This is not just a mere sponsorship of autonomy. It's an intentional plan of building the game of golf. And we are reaping the benefits as a country,” Tayebwa noted.

He said golf is now at the center stage of government priorities and that the Kitante course will receive sh2.5b in the coming financial year to improve and protect the only green space in the middle of the city. He said the government will also venture into constructing golf courses, just as it has done with football stadiums, because it's a game changer.

“But in the meantime, we are going to be supporting one course per year. So, this financial year, we are going to start with one in Kampala. We've been sleeping a lot; now we've woken up," Tayebwa stated.

Meanwhile Rugumayo leads the Ugandan cast of professional golfers as the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open gets underway at the Uganda Golf Club on Wednesday.

Since Deo Akope’s 2014 triumph at the same course, no Ugandan has managed to win the sh150m prize money event. So, this year’s event presents yet again the best chance for a Ugandan golfer to win it at the ‘home of golf’.

The event comes at a time when Rugumayo and co including players like Grace Kasango, Rodell Gaita, Phillip Kasozi, Marvin Kibirige and David Kamulindwa seem to have stepped up and are ready for the challenge.

The Sunshine Tour player is arguably the man to beat on his home course, where he has won several events, including the Watoto Charity and UGC Ladies' professional tournaments, and has come second in the Absa Chairman’s Bell over the last month. Rugumayo will be hoping for the same consistency that saw him finish all three events under par.

“With professional golf, the more you play, the better you get, and this has offered the momentum needed for the Uganda Open. This has been good for all of us. Over the years, there has been huge improvement in our ranks, and I can only thank my fellow professionals for putting in the work and all the sacrifices behind the scenes,” Rugumayo said. 

All former winners over the past five years, Rwandan Celestine Nsanzuwera, Kenyan Dismas Indiza, Zambian Dayne Moore, and Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi are back to try and win it. They all had a feel of the course during the Absa Pro-Am on Tuesday and can look forward to the same conditions throughout the four days of action.

Lady golfers Tanzanian Angel Eaton and Ugandans Irene Nakalembe and Flavia Namakula, who won the event as amateurs, are also in the fray. The overall winner will walk away with sh31m, with the runners-up and first runner-up taking home sh21 m and sh12m, respectively.

Last year, only ten partook of the sh150m cash after they made the cut at the end of the second round at the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club.

Absa Pro-Am

Winning team:

Dew Sweepers 109pts

Ronald Rugumayo

Paul Nuwagaba

Collins Nuwagira

Diana Nabukenya

Runners-up team:

NBS Sport 4 108pts

Abbey Bagalana

Michael Bironse

Godwill Bindeba

Joseph Luyima

Second Runners-up:

Johnnie Walker-1 108c/b

Fon Pristhy

Darious Mugisha

Jennifer Opio

Annita Amumpaire