Overview:
Akena qualified on account of being ranked among the best 500 amateur golfers in the world.
The reigning Uganda Open golf amateur champion, Joseph Reagan Akena, will travel to the United States of America in July 2025 to compete in the US Amateur Championship qualifiers.
Akena, 20, will play at the PB Dye Golf Club course in Ijamsville, Maryland, on July 17-19, 2025.
The Lugazi golfer qualified on account of being ranked among the best 500 amateur golfers in the world.
An overjoyed Akena received his visa from the US Embassy on Monday, 23rd June 2025.
It will be a dream and honour to play in this tournament. My golf journey continues to unravel in many unique, interesting ways and I hope that I can learn one or two things when competing against some of the best golfers in the world golf capital that is America.
Joseph Reagan Akena, Uganda amateur golfer
Akena, a national team golfer, was part of the youthful side that dethroned Kenya at the 2025 Victoria Cup at Mt Kipipiri Golf Resort in March.
To miss the Pearl of Africa in Lugazi:
The US open qualifiers will coincide with the final leg of the Pearl of Africa Golf Series that will take place at the Lugazi Hills and Country Club next month.
“I would have loved to play in the Pearl of Africa event. But in life, you can’t have your cake and eat it. I will miss the Pearl of Africa. But I will be around for the Open,” he consoled himself.
Akena lauded the R&A High Performance programme and the Uganda Golf Union leadership for the enabling environment that has seen his career soar.
Akena is tipped to be the favourite to win the Uganda Open crown, seeing how the tournament will be played on a course where he learnt the game and honed his talent.
Blessed with a tremendous short game, Akena had a terrific 2024 season in which he won a host of events, the climax of which was the Uganda Open.
He prevailed in the Kakira Open, Jinja Open, Lugazi Centenary, Godfrey Nsubuga Invitational, Mbale Open and the Kilelesi competition.
The man Akena replaced as Uganda Open champion, Nsubuga, will also play in the US Amateur Championship qualifiers.
However, Nsubuga will tee off from July 14-17.
Additional information from Uganda Golf Union communications department
