Fifty professional golfers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Ireland have confirmed their participation in the 71st Uganda Amateur Open Golf Championship that swings into action on September 21 at Uganda Golf Club, Kitante.
The four day tournament that concludes on September 24 has been revamped by local organisers Uganda Golf Union with 70 amateurs taking part in the most prestigious tournament on the local calendar. Last year’s winner in the amateurs Brian Mwesigwa will be among the 50 professionals trying to dethrone last year’s winner Jean Baptiste Hakizimana from Rwanda. This year the professionals will be battling for a grand prize of sh25 million in prize money.
The late Sadi Onito, won the Uganda Open a record 12 times while his late Charles Yokwe, won the the event twice. This year Onito’s other two golfing sons Emanuel Onito Opio and Grace Onito Ochieng will be playing as professionals as they seek to follow in their father’s footsteps and enter Uganda golf’s folkfare.