Uganda guns for their third Victoria Cup golf title in Entebbe

The Uganda national golf team is hoping to replicate last year’s performance at the Mt. Kipipiri Golf Resort in Naivasha, where they beat Kenya to win their second Victoria Cup, at this year’s edition at Entebbe Club, March 5-7.

Uganda beat Kenya by 3.5 points (14.5-11.5) to win the event for the second time, their last victory being in Kampala in 2019. The Ugandans, who trail in the two-nation series 5-2, now have an opportunity to do it again on home soil, with both the coach and team captain exuding confidence ahead of Thursday's action at the par-71 Entebbe course.

Lieutenant Flavia Namakula, the National Team coach, said the team is ready for the match-play competition, with all pairings now sharpened for the job.

Team Uganda in high spirits ahead of the Victoria Cup tournament. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“We have gone through all the pairings, and we have a team of young guys who are really hungry for success. I'm sure, and I trust them, and I believe that we are going to defend our title,” Namakula said.

“We have already gone through all the possible scenarios of the match play format. And I believe that we are strong enough to defend the title. There is a lot of pressure being a first-time captain, but I’m ready for the experience,” team captain John Musiimenta added. 

Apart from Joseph Cwinyaai, Titus Okwong, and Anthony Otukei, who are not on the team, Namakula has maintained last year’s squad, a mix of young blood and experience for the job. Andrew Ssekibejja, Amon Bwambale, and Godfrey Kambale are the new faces on the team from last year. The rest are Abdallah Kakooza, Joseph Reagan Akena, Abdu Kakeeto, Elton Thembo, Joseph Kasozi, and Peter Mayende. Kenya has fielded Elvis Muigua (captain), John Lejirmah, Isaac Makokha, Junaid Manji, Kevin Anyien, Mwathi Gicheru, Daniel Kiragu, Ebill Omollo, Tsevi Soni, and Yuvraj Rajput.

The event will feature two rounds of the foursomes and four-ball-better-ball over 36 holes (four pairs against four) before the final singles round on Saturday. Last year, Uganda stood out in the four-ball better-ball format, earning 3.5 points while allowing only 0.5. Uganda was also 4-0 in the foursomes and squared it out 2-2 with their opponents in the fourballs. Despite losing the singles 6-4, the Ugandans had done enough for the win. The tournament started in 2016, with Kenya winning the first three editions. Uganda then won the tournament on home soil in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the 2020 and 2021 editions. Afterwards, Kenya bounced back to claim the 2022 title. The 2023 event was cancelled due to technical issues, while the two nations squared off in Kampala in 2024.

During the flag-raising ceremony at Entebbe Club on Wednesday, the State Sports Minister, Peter Ogwang, hailed the governing bodies from the two countries for their tireless work to shape young people and secure the future of this sport. 

“Sports is about competition, talent, identification and development, and that charm. I will obviously be rooting for Uganda to successfully defend the crown,” Ogwang said, before he teed off the event in the company of Doris Komen, the Commercial Attaché at the Kenya High Commission, who represented the Kenyan high commissioner to Uganda Joshua Mangi, the Kenya Golf Union chairman, Chris Kinuthia, UGU president Jackson Were, Victoria Cup founder member Innocent Kihika among other officials from the Uganda Golf Union.

“We must dig deep to win this competition at home. Regardless, I hope that all the players will showcase discipline, competitiveness, and the hunger to win.” 

UGU president Jackson Were noted that this event was created to celebrate competition, camaraderie and a shared love of golf between two great nations. He said that the Victoria Cup has quickly become one of the most anticipated fixtures on our calendar. “Your presence here strengthens the bond our two golfing communities share. We may be separated by a border, but on this fairway, we are united by respect for the game, for each other, and for the spirit of fair play.

“To the players, when these flags go up, they represent more than the colours and the fabric. They represent your families, your clubs, your federations, and your nations. Wear your colours with pride, but also with humility. Compete fiercely, but fairly.  Respect the rules, your opponents, the officials, and the course,” Were stated.

Founder Kihika shared a brief history of the event, noting that the idea came about during the then East African Golf Challenge in 2015, when he chatted with KGU chairman Anthony Muhoro.

“As we went through the competition that involved many East African countries, we observed that the East African competition often seemed to come down to Uganda and Kenya.  And as we sat down by the bar, watching the 18th hole at the old Kigali Golf Club, we watched a particularly painful loss that was decided by a missed putt by a Kenyan. And the spirited debate began as to which team was truly better. “So, the debate sparked a question. Why don't we let Uganda and Kenya face each other off directly? Why don't we create a competition that pushes us beyond our comfort zones? So, we said, let this be our Ryder Cup, the rivalry, the pride, the unmistakable team spirit that would have between the two countries, Kihika stated.

“To Team Uganda, you carry the hunger, you carry the memory of the past defeats, and you carry the memories of 2019 and 2025 when you won it. Use them.  Let every missed putt from the previous years sharpen your focus this week. 

“To Team Kenya, you carry confidence. But remember, confidence without concentration becomes comedy very quickly in golf.  And to both teams, this format, inspired by the Ryder Cup, is about partnership, strategy, and trust.  It's about standing on the tee and knowing your teammate believes in you.”

This year's edition is presented by NCBA Bank, with support from NCS, Prudential Insurance, MTN MOMO, Aquafina, and Pepsi.