Since 2017 when Ronald Rugumayo won the Uganda Open, apart from three-time winner Ronald Otile (2018) there has been a different winner of the annual championship over the past four years.

Will it remain that way after the 82nd edition of the championship that tees off at Kitante on Wednesday, ends on Saturday?

Maybe yes, if the field of 126 players that have registered for this year’s event is anything to go by.

Mehta Golf Club’s Godfrey Nsubuga is arguably the most prepared golfer, competition-wise among the locals for the Johnnie Walker Uganda Amateurs event who is seeking to emerge the new champion.

Having decided to compete more in Kenya as he vies for the Kenya Amateur Stroke-Play Championships’ Order of Merit series, Nsubuga has had more competition time than any of the local amateurs. He has this year competed in 13 Kenyan events where he has impressed in several one’s including in the Nandi Bears Trophy in Nandi Hills where he finished fourth on Sunday.

Earlier this month he won his first event on Kenyan soil-the Tea Fields Trophy Golf Tournament in Kericho to remain third on 502 points in the series behind leader Kiambu Golf Club’s Michael Karanga who leads with 1213 and second-placed Lejirma who is on 571 points.

Whether he can transfer that form to the open where he finished fourth last year at the Serena course remains to be seen, though he remains positive.

“Ever since I got training from the Royal and Ancient Club of Scotland (R&A) coaches that came here and later in South Africa my game has improved a lot so I’m positive I can win the Uganda Open, because I have worked on all aspects of my game,” Nsubuga said.

“The South African coaches sharpened all the basics and tipped me on how to have a strategy so I enter this one with a better strategy, and I’m positive,”

Nsubuga is up against a number of established amateurs that include 2021 champion Joseph Cwinya-ai, Titus Okwong, Joseph Kasozi, Ibrahim Bagalana, Michael Tumusiime and defending champion Andrew Ssekibejja who all, have also tested some Kenyan competitions this year.

Last year Lake Victoria Serena’s Ssekibejja defied the odds to win Uganda’s biggest golfing tournament, beating the likes of national team captain and the then defending champion Cwinya-ai and Tumusiime who finished second overall.

But ever since that famous win he has failed to show the same mettle in the various events he has competed in despite harbouring intentions of becoming one of the famous golfers in the country.

“I want to be among one of the famous golfers in the country and in the region but first with the national team where I also want to win something with them. I want to follow in the footsteps of Deo Akope and also try to match what he has achieved in the game,” Ssekibejja said soon after winning last year.

Ssekibejja tees-off at 7.50am alongside Nsubuga, Burundi’s Abdoul Bizimana and Tanzanian Ally Isanzu.

A number of other foreign entries from around East African countries Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan are also in for the 72-hole championship.

Simon Kariuki Karari, George Themburu and Chrisphine Owuor from Kenya are in, just like Abdoul Bizimana, Salum Hakizimana and Abdoul Rahman Rukundo from Burundi.

Rwanda is represented by Felix Dusabe, Jean Hitayezu, Samuel Muragijimana, Felix Dusabe, Obardi Niyinyunavira, Alain Boy, Didas Ndindabahizi and Samuel Muragijimana while Tanzania has George Sembi, Isiaka Dunia and Isanzu.

South Sudan’s Mark Mayen as well as Anton Krisch from Sweden are also in for the stroke-play event that is never short of surprises, and has attracted 127 players

Past winners over the last ten years

2013 – Peter Ssendawula

2014 – Willy Kitata

2015 – Ronald Otile

2016 – Ronald Otile

2017 – Ronald Rugumanyo

2018 – Ronald Otile

2019 – Daniel Nduva

2020 – John Lejirma

2021 – Joseph Cwinya-ai

2022 – Andrew Ssekibejja