Babirye ready to defend Uganda Golf Open title

Lady Golfer of the Year 2019 Martha Babirye is determined to defend her Uganda Ladies Open title when the action returns to the course at the Uganda Golf Club on November 26-28.

Speaking after picking her Nile Special USPA accolade at Serena Hotel on Wednesday, Babirye said she was fit and ready to retain her title.

"I'm only six years into the sport but I have managed to achieve much in the sport as this is the second award I'm picking from this stage. I'm looking forward to defending the Ladies Open," Babirye said.

Addressing the press flanked by tournament director John Katto, Next Media's Desire Mugumisa, and UGC captain Jackson Karyarugookwe, during the launch of this year's event at Kitante on Thursday, Uganda Golf Union president Moses Matsiko said this year's event will attract some of the best golfers from around the world.

He said it is a special event because it is going to be the first since the lockdown due to COVID-19 and that it is going to benchmark other upcoming tournaments.

"The major focus for this open is going to be adherence to the SOPs from NCS and the Ministry of Health because it is in our interest to hold it under strict SOPs," Matsiko said.

He said over 360 players from around the world had already registered for the three-in-one event which will have the ladies, amateurs, and professionals in action.

Sponsors Tusker Malt Lager has committed sh100m in cash and will add another sh50m in kind according to Matsiko.

The professional's event has already attracted 78 professionals, including 1 from South Africa, 3 from Nigeria, 1 from Senegal, 1 from Zimbabwe, Cameroon 5, France 2, Cote D`Ivoire, Ghana 1, Malawi 1 and Zambia 3 while the amateur event has 103 entries.

Katto said golfers of the handicap 0-9 are eligible to play in the main event and that 79 professionals most of whom are foreign entries have so far registered for the event.

"We are ready everything is set so we would like to thank our sponsors for coming on board with us," Katto said.

Tusker representative Annette Nakiyaga emphasised the brand's commitment to golf, promising a stimulating run of events.

"We are delighted and greatly honoured because we are the biggest sponsors of golf in the country and there cannot be a better time for us to sponsor the biggest event on the calendar than now," Nakiyaga said.

"At Tusker Malt, we set the benchmark for quality and achievement and we are once again honoured to be a part of a tournament that represents the same," Nakiyaga stated.

Crown Burger Uganda will provide all the sanitising equipment for the tournament, while Next Media will provide a live-stream of the virtual event among other offers. The other sponsors include Pinnacle Security, Case Medicare, Timothy Ojara Foundation, Master Power Systems, Pepsi, NCS, and UGC.