Buyinza, Gasigwa open with wins

By Douglas Mazune

Castle Lite Uganda Open

J. Gasigwa bt H. Sas 6-1 6-1

R. Kwagala bt A. Tacca 6-0 6-1

J. Mugwaneza bt D. Kibirige 6-2 6-3

D. Oringa bt J. Bayego 6-2 6-1

H. Buyinza bt C. Gitaru 6-0 6-0

E. Odocken bt O. Nkunda 6-1 6-2

M. Otiti bt J. Oryada 6-1 6-0

J. Ssebanya bt M. Ssesanga 6-3 6-1

M. Uwizeyimana bt I. Okong 6-1 6-1

M. Harerimano bt E. Kiyarang 7-5 6-2

GAUGING from the ease with which he blew away unseeded Hassan Sas in the first round, Rwandan Jean Claude Gasigwa deserved top seeding in the Uganda Open main event that got underway at Lugogo yesterday.

Gasigwa, who won the men’s singles title in 2008, saw off Hassan 6-1 6-1 in just half an hour and took time off to watch other competitors battling on court. The Rwandan No.1 may have been in a bullish mood but his compatriot Janvier Mugwaneza, who defeated him in a local tournament in Kigali, knows his weaknesses so well.

“I wouldn’t promise to beat Gasigwa again but if we meet it will be a tough match for both of us. My opponent (Dean Kibirige) today gave me a good warm up. I will take each match at a time,” Mugwaneza told New Vision Online.

Uganda’s main hope, Herbert Buyinza showed his might with a 6-0 6-0 win over Chris Gitaru, the only Kenyan entrant in the men’s event.