Amateur golfer, Ronald Otile of Toro Golf club in Fort portal was crowned the Nile Special/USPA best sports personality of the year, 2015 at a glamorous 31st awards night held at Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday evening.
Otile, who won the 2015 Uganda Amateur and Professional Golf open categories beat body builder, Ivan Byekwaso and She Cranes’ Rachael Nanyonga to the top accolade.
The calm handicap zero national team jovial player, also the 2015 Nile Special golfer of the year told Kawowo Sports, the award not only motivates him to shoot higher, but also to maintain the status quo
I am overwhelmed, shocked in a way to win this accolade.
Thank you USPA for recognizing the best. I will play to my best to maintain the winning formula.
It was a special night where the golfing family reaped big with several other awards.
The Uganda Golf Union was named the best sports federation of the year, the 72nd edition of the Uganda Cup topped as the best organized sporting event and the Uganda Golf team was crowned Sports team of the year for winning the Africa Zone 6 championship as well as defending the East African Golf Challenge in Rwanda.
On the night MC’ed by Andrew Kabuura and Crystal Nueman, guests were treated to a great ambiance at the Serena main hall, entertained by music divas Winnie Nuwagi and Rema Namakula as well as served with the most delicious foods and tasty drinks all evening.
Veteran cricket administrator and former player, Sam Walusimbi took home the USPA Legendary life achievement award for his outstanding and exemplary mentor-ship of upcoming cricketers and the awesome unquestionable leadership.
I am humbled by this USPA award. It is good one is recognized before death. USPA has indeed recognized my sweat and commitment in developing cricket in Uganda.
USPA President Sabiiti Muwanga used the plat form to thank the USPA current and past executives, sponsors and partners as well as all the members for seeing the association grow from strength to strength.
The golfing family smiled home with most awards on the night
At the same forum, he called for an independent sports ministry and challenged Government to help in developing more sports infrastructure.
“We need more sports facilities to develop quality sportsmen and women in this country. Sports facilities are diminishing at a fast rate. I want to call Government to preserve the existing ones and put in place many more” Muwanga who was flanked by his entire executive appealed.
Chief Guest, Willam Bakabulindi, the state minister in charge of Sports appealed to sportsmen to desist from drugs.
“Use sports as a medicine than drugs” Bakabulindi stated.
Uganda Cranes coach, Milutin Sredojevic (left) awarded the best male Nile Special/ USPA rugby player of the year, Michael Wokorach
Various sports personalities were awarded with their plaques periodically at the black tie event before Otile and his golf companions basked away in the night’s glory and limelight.
The guest list had several big wigs in the sporting, social and corporate families as Uganda Cranes head coach, Milutin Sredojevic, Edgar Watson (FUFA CEO), Ambros Tashobya (President of Uganda Basketball Association), Don Rukare (President, Uganda Swimming Association), Sam ‘Mahaba’ Muwonge (President Uganda Cycling Association), Farouk Kisuze Wamala (President, Uganda Pool Association), Julius Achon (Mp Elect Otuke constituency), Abebe Angese (Ethiopian Airlines Country manager), Cythia Mpanga (Standard Chartered, Communications), David Semakula Katende (National Council of Sports) among others.
Six of the former USPA previous presidents graced the awards dinner in a complete exhibition of solidarity.
ALL WINNERS:
Nile Special USPA Sports Personality of the year:
Ronald Otile (Golf)
Nile Special USPA team of the year:
National Golf team
Nile Special USPA Best run federation of the year.
Uganda Golf Union (Decided by the USPA executive)
Nile Special USPA best organized event of the year:
Uganda Golf Open
Nile Special USPA Legendary award 2015
Sam Walusimbi
OTHER AWARDS:
Athletics
Nile Special USPA Female Athlete of 2015 –JULIET CHEKWEL
Nile Special USPA Male Athlete of 2015- JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI
Boxing
Nile Special USPA Boxer of 2015 –FAZIL JUMA KAGGWA
Football
Nile Special USPA Footballer of 2015- DENIS ONYANGO
Nile Special USPA Female Footballer of 2015-SANDRA NABWETEME
Motorsport
Nile Special USPA Rally Crew of 2015- ARTHUR BLICK Jr AND UNISAN BAKUNDA
Golf
Nile Special USPA Male golfer of 2015- RONALD OTILE
Nile Special USPA Female golfer of 2015- FLAVIA NAMAKULA
Cricket
Nile Special USPA Male cricketer of 2015- ROGER MUKASA
Nile Special USPA Female cricketer of 2015- FRANKLIN NAJJUMBA
Pool
Nile Special USPA Male Pool player of 2015- AMOS NDYAGUMANAWE
Nile Special USPA Female Pool player of 2015- ANGELLA BUSINGYE
Badminton
Nile Special USPA Male Badminton player of 2015-EDWIN EKIRING
Rwenzori USPA Female Badminton player of 2015-TRACY NALUWOZA
Karate
Nile Special USPA Male Karateka of 2015- RONALD MWANJE
Nile Special USPA Female Karateka of 2015- LINDAH OCHEN
T/Tennis
Nile Special USPA Male T/Tennis player of 2015- IVAN WAMUSI
Nile Special USPA Female T/Tennis player 2015-AMINAH LUKAAYA
Woodball
Nile Special USPA Female Woodball player of 2015-JOAN MUKOOVA
Nile Special USPA Male Woodball player of 2015-JOEL ADUPA
Weightlifting
Nile Special USPA weightlifter of 2015- HAKIM SSEMPEREZA
Rugby
Nile Special USPA Female rugby player of 2015- SAMIYA AYIKORU
Nile Special USPA Male rugby player of 2015- MICHAEL WOKORACH
Basketball
Nile Special USPA Male Basketballer of 2015- KAMI KABANGE
Nile Special USPA Female Basketballer of 2015-FLAVIA OKETCHO
Motocross
Nile Special USPA Male Motocross rider of 2015-MAXIME VAN PEE
Chess
Nile Special USPA Male Chess player of 2015- ARTHUR SSEGWANYI
Nile Special USPA Female Chess player of 2015- GRACE KIGENI
Volleyball
Nile Special USPA Female Volleyballer of 2015- ZAINA KAGOYA
Nile Special USPA Male Volleyballer of 2015- GEORGE APORU
Netball
Nile Special USPA Netballer of 2015-RACHEAL NANYONGA
Cycling
Rwenzori USPA Cyclist of 2015- HASSAN SSEKANGA
Darts
Nile Special USPA Male Darts player of 2015-JACOB OKIDI
Nile Special USPA Female Darts player of 2015-DINAH AMODING
Kickboxer
Nile Special USPA Kickboxer of 2015-PATRICIA APOLOT
Ludo
Nile Special USPA Ludo player of 2015 –EMMANUEL MUBIRU
Handball
Nile Special USPA Male Handball player of 2015- IBRAHIM KONGO
Nile Special USPA Female handball player of 2015-LILLIAN AJIO
Swimming
Rwenzori USPA Female Swimmer of 2015- REBECCA SSENGONZI
Rwenzori USPA Male Swimmer of 2015-JOSHUA EKIRIKUBINZA
Hockey
Nile Special USPA Male Hockey player of 2015-DERRICK AKUWA
Rwenzori USPA Female Hockey player of 2015-WINNIE ALARO
Tennis
Nile Special USPA Tennis player of 2015-DUNCAN MUGABE
Body building
Nile Special USPA bodybuilder of 2015-IVAN BYEKWASO
Squash
Nile Special USPA squash player of 2015-MICHAEL KAWOOYA