Overview:
With three Uganda amateur open titles to his name (2000, 2001 and 2002), Deo Akope also boasts of two Uganda open professional accolades, as well as multiple trophies in various tournaments and championships featured in.
Fortebet Real Stars monthly awards (June 2025)
- Life time achievement award: Deo Akope (Professional golfer, chairman Uganda Professional Golfers Association, teaching pro & coach)
Individual sports disciplines:
- Basketball: Frank Nyembo Fataki (Sommert Basketball club)
- Netball: Linda Muzigo (Uganda Christian University Netball Club)
- Athletics: Peruth Chemutai
Legendary Uganda professional golfer Deo Akope has virtually seen it all in this swing, chip and putt sport.
From playing with cassava sticks as clubs, to caddying, Akope also captained and coached the Uganda national golf team.
Now a professional player, the soft-spoken legend is the current chairman of the Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) and a proven teaching pro.
Akope was specially recognized with the life-time achievement award at the Fortebet Real stars monthly awards for his enormous contribution to the sport.
With three Uganda amateur open titles to his name (2000, 2001 and 2002), Akope also boasts of two Uganda open professional accolades, as well as multiple trophies in various tournaments and championships featured in domestically, the East African region and on the continent.
“It is humbling to be recognized” Akope beamed with a smile across his face.
“I am honoured for this and I thank the organizers as well as Fortebet and Jude Colour Solutions. This is a motivational tool to me” he added moments after receiving the plaque from Nakawa East Member of Parliament Hon. Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo.
Fresh from clinching the Captain’s bell overall trophy among the professionals, Akope eyes the final leg of the Pearl of Africa championship coming up at the Lugazi Hills and Country club (16th to 19th July 2025).
Akope is arguably the most respected golfer on the land at the moment with a special fairway named after him; the famous Deo Akope Challenge 4-par hole 17 at Entebbe Club.
He also has a tournament in his honour under his foundation, Deo Akope Foundation.
Individual sports personalities rewarded:
Netball
Linda Muzigo was recognized as the most outstanding player in netball for the month of June.
The UCU defender had a stellar display in the 48-37 win over UPDF and the 60-42 victory past Busia.
The grey patch only came when they fell to NIC 33-37.
Muzigo came top ahead of team mate Alice Isoto and KCCA’s Shafie Nalwanja.
Am glad to win this award with entire UCU Angels. This is good motivation to me and the team. I appreciate the organizers for creating efforts in pushing us to pull up our performances, for my team we are having a fantastic season we have only lost one game and also it was a good game despite losing.
Linda Muzigo, UCU Netball player
Basketball:
Sommet Basketball club player Frank Nyembo Fatak won the award over JKL Lady Dolphins and Peter Akok of KIU Titans.
Nyembo stood out as SOMMET Basketball Club castrated KIU Titans 92-73, edged Kampala Rockets 85-81, came top over City Oilers 90-87 and recorded a 68-64 win past JKL Dolphins (men side).
Despite a 55-52 loss to KCCA panthers, Nyembo still managed to put a significant Performance for the June award.
Out of the five games SOMMET Basketball Club played, Nyembo averaged 21 points, picking up a combined 57 rebounds and 26 turnovers to drive SOMMET Basketball Club to a 6th place on the National Basketball log with 27 points in 17 games.
Athletics:
Steeple chase runner Peruth Chemutai emerged top in athletics.
Chemutai won a silver medal at Paris Diamond League in the 3000m steeplechase event with a seasonal best 8:54.41.
Kenya’s Faith Cherotich earned gold with a time of 8:53.37.
Nakawa East Member of Parliament Hon. Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo was chief guest during the crowning ceremony hosted at Lazio Restaurant in Kololo.
Hon. Balimwezo hinted on protection of the open spaces where sports is held.
Real Stars Executive Director Isaac Mukasa, Jude Colour Solutions’ Henry Zzimbe and Fortebet assistant laisons manager Resty Mbatidde Namugema all graced this event.
These awards have been held since 2018.
