Ugandan ladies eye regional golf championship

Oct 17, 2019

The ladies finished second behind two-time winners Zambia when the tournament was last held in Malawi in 2015.

Ugandan ladies will be hoping to register their first win on home soil when the 5th edition of the East and Central Africa Regional Challenge Trophy tees off at the Entebbe Club course, October 23-26.
 
The ladies finished second behind two-time winners Zambia when the tournament was last held in Malawi in 2015.
 
Action at Lilongwe Golf Club ended with defending champion Zambia winning the biennial championship by 15 strokes ahead of the Ugandans. It was the second consecutive time that Zambia was winning the champion since they last hosted the event in 2013.
 
Tanzania who has also won the event twice is also coming for the event alongside Kenya and Zambia, with Malawi still doubtful.
 
Today, MAC East Africa Country General Manager Khadr Mohammed offered $7,000 (sh25m) for the event that is held in a year when the All Africa ladies championship is not held.
 
GK Sports that engages in marketing players and recently started an academy was represented by former footballer Gibby Kalule at the press conference. They have been facilitating the Uganda team during training for the past three weeks.
 
"I have assembled a team that I'm confident about winning this event and I would like to thank all the people that have supported us but we are still short on our sh150m budget," Magala said.

 Lady President and national team manager Eva Magala (center) receives a $7,000 cheque from MAC East Africa Country General Manager Khadr Mohammed (right) as GK Sports Director Gibby Kalule looks on. PHOTO: Michael Nsubuga

 
"Special thanks go to MAC East Africa and GK sports for responding to our call on short notice, to the Royal & Ancient Club who is catering for accommodation and Uganda Breweries."
 
Khadr said MAC East Africa was honoured to be associated with golf and wished the ladies all the best of luck.
 
Kalule said the power of sport had drawn him to sponsor the ladies and especially to support his country and to entice more ladies into playing golf because sport can empower a lot of people before he promised winning bonuses for the Uganda team.
 
"I believe in sports we can derive a livelihood, young children can still get opportunities, promote health and promote a winning mindset. I hope our team can go all the way and bring glory home," Kalule stated.   
 
Uganda will be represented by Irene Nakalembe (Captain), Peace Kabasweka, Martha Babirye, and Gloria Mbaguta.
 
The foreign teams arrive on October 22, ahead of the flag-raising the following day, before the competition starts on October 24-26.
 
The tournament is sponsored by R&A, UTB, Job Connect, Isuzu, GK Sports, Pearl Seeds, and UBL.
 
The tournament was started by the then AACT president Monica Ntege in 2009. Uganda hosted the first edition that was won by Tanzania before it moved to Tanzania in 2011, Zambia in 2013 and in Malawi in 2015. The reunion that was supposed to host the 2017 edition pulled out of hosting.

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