A record four hundred and eight golfers have entered the prestigious 72 Tusker Malt Uganda Open golf championship set to tee off at the Uganda Golf Club from 1-6 September at the revised par 71 Kitante course.
Twenty local and fourty international professionals will be battling for the 100 million that is at stake for the tournament with four players from the Sunshine Tour vying for the top prize they include Alan Mitchell, Teboho Sefatsa from South Africa, Tongoona Charamba, Farahi Chitengwa and Ignatius Mketekete from Zimbabwe.
Kenya’s contingent will be led by lefty Richard Ainley others are hard hitting Dismus Indiza, Simon Ngige, David Odiambo and Nicholas Rokoine. Other professionals include Haile from Ethiopia who will be making his first appearance at this tournament. Burundi will have John Kisia while Rwanda will be represented by Emmanuel Ruterana, Erneste Ndayisenga, their other representative will miss out that is John Baptiste Hakizimana, who is on tour in the USA.
Tanzania will have Brayson Nyeza and Rajabu Pembe. Uganda’s onslaught will be led by Deo Akope and last year’s winner Vincent Byamukama. In the Open category the organisers have received 89 local players with 13 foreigners last year’s winner Peter Ssendaula, will be taking part with past winners national captain Phillip Kasozi and Rogers Byaruhanga.
Other notable players to watch include Willy Deus Kitata, seasoned campaigners like Francis Ngabo, Gideon Kagyenzi, Joseph Mawejje, Stephen Katwiremu and the national team players will be on course.
Uganda Breweries have sponsored the tournament to a tune of 200 million with 100 million going to the professionals. The other sponsor for the event is Sheraton Hotel who will provide refreshments on the course throughout the tournament and also have given the international golfers a discount on accomodation.
Uganda Tourism Board, is using the tournament to market Uganda’s tourism industry and have also provide a magazine that will be profiling Uganda’s tourism spots and also talking about Uganda’s golf industry.
The winner in the Open will be offered a tour of the country’s tourism spots free of charge by Uganda Tourism Board.
Tusker Malt Uganda Open in Numbers
Professionals
Local 20
Foreign 40
Main Event
Local 89
Foreign 13
Subsidiary
Local 76
Foreign 10
Pro-Am
Local 114
Foreign 46
Total 408
Summary:
Local 299
Foreign 109