Rugumayo targets strong showing at inaugural Pearl of Africa-SunShine Development tour
The Entebbe leg, with a sh70m kitty, offers the likes of Kasozi, who has been the most consistent Ugandan participant in these tour events, a chance to lay a marker on home soil.
Ronald Rugumayo celebrates with a fist pump recently. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Ugandan golfer Ronald Rugumayo aims to continue his strong performance as he competes with leading professionals from across the continent in the inaugural Pearl of Africa-SunShine Development Tour (SDT) at Entebbe Club, scheduled for September 16 to 19.
Since finishing second in the Absa Chairman’s Bell Tournament at Kitante on July 18, Rugumayo has sustained his strong form, winning the UGC Ladies Open Professional’s event, the Watoto Charity Golf Tournament, the Absa Pro-Am, the Uganda Open Championship, and recently the MTN Pro Tees, all with notable under-par scores, earning close to sh40m.
Last Friday at the MTN Pro Tees in Entebbe, Rugumayo, who also plays on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, set a ‘course record’ with an 8-under 63 in the third round. He finished the tournament with a 7-under 64 in the final round, ending at 16-under 268 overall and winning by 7 strokes over Abraham Ainamani.
He now faces even stronger competition in the sixth of 12 SDT events in the 2026-27 season, designed to create more competitive opportunities and strengthen the pathway for emerging golfers.
He has competed in two of these, finishing 7th in the Thika Sports Invitational in April, where Phillip Kasozi and David Kamulindwa also made the cut, and at the Absa Invitational at Nyali in July, where he also made the cut alongside Kasozi and Rodell Gaita.
The Entebbe leg, with a sh70m kitty, offers the likes of Kasozi, who has been the most consistent Ugandan participant in these tour events, a chance to lay a marker on home soil.
The other Ugandans, like Ronald Otile, Kamulindwa, Grace Kasango, Marvin Kibirige, James Koto, Irene Nakalembe, and Hussein Bagalana, who have competed in some of the tour events without much success, can also redeem themselves in Entebbe.
Rwandan Celestine Nsanzuwera, winner of two events thus far, the Thika Sports Invitational and the Absa Invitational Ruiru is one of the top foreign contenders, alongside Daniel Nduva, Dismas Indiza, Greg Snow, and Samuel Njoroge, who have each won one tour event this season.
Nigerians Godwin Okoko and Sunday Olapade, and a host of South African professionals, including Eswatini lady professional golfer Nobuhle Dlamini, are also in.
Beyond the prize money, the golfers will be fighting for valuable Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Action in Entebbe starts with a PRO-AM round on Wednesday before serious business swings into action the following day. The inaugural Pearl of Africa-Sunshine Development Tour, and also the first Uganda Official Pro-Golf Ranking event, will also have a Fun Village for guests.