Uganda fields trio for East & Central Africa women’s golf trophy

A team of three female golfers will represent Uganda at this year’s East & Central Africa All-Africa Challenge Trophy (ECAAACT), at the Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort in Naivasha, Kenya, October 20-25.

Team captain Peace Kabasweka will spearhead Uganda’s charge alongside Meron Kyomugisha.

Also on the team is 16-year-old Keisha Kagoro currently based in South Africa who is going to represent the country for the third time and the first on the senior team in what coach Flavia Namakula described as a strategy to ensure continuity. Charity Atuhaire and Paul Habyarimana will manage the team in Nairobi.

“The team is ready. Preparations have been going on well, they have kept their discipline which shows they are focused to do well in Kenya,” Namakula said.

Milton Chebet (2nd left) the NCS Assistant General Secretary-Technical poses with national team members Peace Kabasweka (5th right) and Melon Kyomugisha (3rd right) alongside coach Flavia Namakula (center) ULGU president Rita Apell (4th left) and team managers Charity Atuhaire (3rd left) and Paul Habyarimana (4th right) and some of the sponsors representatives at NCS Headquarters. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“It is our intention to include a junior on every team heading out in order to grow the game, develop their skills for future competitions as the older golfers phase out.”

She said her team has been training at the Lake Victoria Serena course that has similar greens like at the competition venue. “We are going their early so we will have enough time to acclimatize.”

Kabasweka who in July competed in the US Elite Amateur Championship has enjoyed a stellar season that has almost seen win everything on the local scene exuded confidence in the team that was flagged off on Friday by Milton Chebet the NCS Assistant General Secretary-Technical.

“We have prepared well I have trust in my players we have put our hearts out to train hard so that we can represent the country and make it proud so we are ready,” Kabasweka said.

“We expect to play well our opponents are familiar and Kenya is not new to us; all we need to do is focus on our game and do all we can to win the competition. I have had a good run throughout all the competitions this year and I hope to do well in this event. I have improved my short game and I hope to perfect that in due course.” she stated.

Uganda Ladies Union president Rita Apell said the tournament is a premier regional women’s amateur golf championship that brings together top national teams from across East and Central Africa.

“Established in 2013 as a regional extension of the continental All-Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) Africa’s flagship women’s amateur event under the Ladies Golf Union of Africa (LGU-Africa) the tournament promotes competition, regional friendship, and the advancement of women’s golf,” she noted.

She thanked the Uganda Golf Union, National Council of Sports, the R&A, Uganda Airlines, Stanbic Bank, Neptune, Challengers and all sponsors, partners, and well-wishers for their continued support in promoting women’s golf in Uganda and the region. This year’s championship will be contested by seven countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Reunion and Uganda. The a 54-hole stroke-play team event will be contested over three days. The best two scores from the three players will count toward the team total. The lowest cumulative score determines the overall winning nation. Individual honours will also be awarded for Best Gross and Best Nett performances. The biennual tournament plays a vital role in raising the competitive standards of women’s golf in the region, preparing players for continental and global representation, strengthening regional cooperation and promoting tourism for the host country. In 2023 Uganda finished fourth at the event that was played at the Kigali Golf Resort in Rwanda.