UCAA Seniors Golf Open tenth edition returns with exciting prizes

John Katto and Jenniffer Opio will be the golfers to beat at the tenth edition of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Seniors Golf Open tournament, due December 6-7 at the Uganda Golf Club.

The two were the overall winners of the previous edition and will face a number of established senior golfers, including Fred Kasumba, Abel Luka, Sam Zaramba, Patrick Kagoro, Arthur Gakwandi, and Charles Katarikawe, among others.

Speaking to the press during the launch of the event at Kitante yesterday, the Chairman of the Uganda Senior Golfing Society (USGS), David Baraka, who was flanked by vice chairperson Ruth Ssali and committee member John Muchiri, said they were happy to be associated with the celebrations marking the International Aviation Week.

He said the USGS had started to encourage those of advanced age to continue playing the game and to practice, as it provides valuable exercise. 

UCAA Acting Director General Olive Lumonya (4th right) alongside her staff members, USGA's David Baraka (4th left) and Ruth Ssali (3rd left), UCAA Crown Beverages' Brand & Communications Manager Sandra Againe (2nd left) pose with some of the prizes during the launch of the UCAA Seniors Golf Open Championship at Kitante. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“We hold four regional tournaments every year, and this tournament closes our calendar of activities. I thank the UGC management and the sponsors, Crown Beverages (Pepsi), Uganda Breweries, Trackers Safari Lodges, Pro-Golf Master, and Case Hospital, for supporting this event,” Baraka stated.

UCAA Acting Director General Olive Lumonya, who announced a sh15m sponsorship for the event, said they were happy to be associated with the event, which they have supported for 10 years, noting that the golfers are critical stakeholders in the work they do as aviators and are committed to continuing their support.

“The event has now traditionally become one of the authorities’ major activities as we plan for the celebration of the International Aviation Week, which is celebrated from December 1-7, in addition to a run of several other activities we have organised towards the golf and the aviation week celebrations,” Lumonya, who was flanked by Vianney Lugya, the UCAA Manager of Public Affairs, and Joseph Adrapi, the Manager of Quality Assurance, said.

She said the other activities included the East Africa Facilitation Conference, Safe Aviation Fuel, and the System Wide Information Management meetings, among other sporting activities such as chess and basketball. 

“We believe that games like golf can be played by seniors, becoming handy in ensuring healthy living. I therefore commend the USGS for keeping the fire burning for the last ten years since we started sponsoring. Golfers, to us, are very key stakeholders to the aviation fraternity, as they are frequent flyers,” she noted. 

The seniors will compete in different categories, including the platinum (80+ years), gold (70-79 years), silver (65-69 years), and bronze (55-64 years) categories, while the ladies will play under the gold (65+ years) and silver (55-64 years) categories. 

The best overall net scores in the men's and ladies’ competition over the two days (36 holes) will wear the crowns, in addition to the subsidiary categories in the traditional men's and ladies’ groups A-C at the tournament’s climax on Sunday.

Joseph Adrabi, the manager of quality assurance and the leader of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority golfing team, said UCAA will field six players, including himself, Michael Tumusiime, Paul Karemba, Collins Aritua, Marvin Kagoro, and Sheilla Ajok, who will vie for prizes in the subsidiary event.

Crown Beverages' Brand & Communications Manager, Sandra Againe, said they offer refreshments for the golfers over the two days.