Ebb Survives 100 Years

Mar 20, 2003

IT takes a lot of effort to keep a golf course from being encroached upon.

By William Muwonge
IT takes a lot of effort to keep a golf course from being encroached upon.
Courses in Gulu, Masaka are non-existent after powerful private developers gained the upperhand.
Elsewhere, sections of the course in Tororo, Lira and in Kampala were nearly taken over by individuals.
In Mbale, green number four in now under private interests.
In Gulu, a local tycoon acquired the course, cut in into plots which he sold off to individuals.
Entebbe course has also been threatened. In the early 70’s, the course was abandoned after the Club House became an officers mess.
In the 1990’s, a section of the course was allocated to Entebbe Zoo, now the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.
But the danger was quelled on each occasion.
The 18-hole course has not only managed to survive but also to grow.
Club Chairman Joshua Tuhumwire gave the answer. “It is the love for the club, selflessness and commitment by its members,” he said.
The growth of the club culminated into 100 years last year. But festivities were held last month.
A Centenary Celebrations tournament held coincided with opening of the 18-hole course, a landmark in the club’s history.
The oldest course in East Africa was constructed in 1902 following a plan hatched by Hamilton Johnson, later Sir Harry. The Scot was head of the British administration in Uganda.
The 18-hole course was upgraded from 9 holes.
The course adjacent to Lake Victoria, is the second 18-hole course after the one at Uganda Golf Club in full use.
The other 18-hole course in Kasese is currently not in use.
The course attracts golfers because of its good scenery — it is near the zoo and the botanical gardens. In addition, the cool breeze sweeping across and the quiet atmosphere provide ideal setting for relaxation.
Tuhumwire did the design work for the new course while a life member Dan Nkata did the finer details.
The 71-year old Nkata, a veteran golf player and course designer who has seen the club grow, said more features will be added to the facility.
“We plan to have a practice putting green, a driving range,” Nkata said.
Nkata was a key figure in getting the course from hands of military ruler Idi Amin’s officers in the early 70’s.
Nkata, one of the first Ugandans to play on the course during the colonial days, came up with a plan that was endorsed by the club management.
He named each hole after personalities and features with historical attachment to the course.
Nkata named hole 1 ‘Sir Harry Johnson’ in honour of the Scot who mapped the course in 1902. Hole 2 is called ‘Col. H. R. L. Pope Hennessey’ in honour of the British official who deployed Sikh troops to work on the course, number 3 is called ‘The Zoo’ because it is adjacent to the zoo.
Number 4 is ‘Sikh Troops Fatigue’ in honour of the workers, 5 is ‘Entebbe za mugula’ after Mugula, a Muganda chief in the area in 1902, 6 is called ‘Port Alice’ in recognition of wife of one of British administrators. Hole 7 is ‘Joshua Tuhumwire’s Drawings’ in honour of the 18-hole designer Tuhumwire, 8 is ‘Sir Hesketh Bell Defence’ after British official Bell, who strongly supported the construction plans, 9 is ‘Jean Short’s long shot’ after a lady golfer and club captain.
Number 18 is called ‘Danny Nkatamunyigwawabiri’s Trail’ in honour of Nkata. The Club management had strong conviction Nkata’s name should feature some where.
Nkata was in 1996 honoured as a life member by the club.
Ends

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