Overview:
The Watoto Golf Tournament aims to raise UGX 450 million to support 1,000 vulnerable mothers with business starter packs and other empowerment support. A contribution of UGX 450,000 can help one mother start or grow a small business, create an income and better provide for her family.
Watoto Church Uganda brought together partners, sponsors, golfers and members of the media during an interactive interface at Uganda Golf Club, Kitante, as the 3rd Edition of the Watoto Golf Tournament 2026 takes centre stage.
Held under the theme “Hope on the Green”, the tournament brings together corporate leaders, golfers, development partners and communities around a shared goal of restoring dignity and creating better opportunities for vulnerable mothers and their children.
The tournament aims to raise Ugx 450 million to support 1,000 vulnerable mothers with business starter packs and other empowerment support. A contribution of Ugx 450,000 can help one mother start or grow a small business, create an income and better provide for her family.
Speaking at the partners’ press briefing, Senior Pastor & Team Leader, Watoto Church Ministries, Julius Rwotlonyo thanked the partners, golfers and friends who have supported the tournament and called on more people to join the cause.
“Golf can be played for a career, competition or simply camaraderie, but golf can also be turned around for a cause. That’s what Watoto Golf is about. We want to go for a cause beyond the green, which is really to bring hope to vulnerable mothers. Our desire this time around is to see over 1,000 mothers’ lives transformed by empowering their businesses. Once a mother is empowered, you have empowered her family,” Pastor Rwotlonyo remarked.
He added that the tournament provides an opportunity for the golf community, corporates and the wider community to come together and make a difference.
“Together, every swing can change a mother’s story. I want to thank our partners and everyone who has come alongside us. Please come, let us be generous and be part of it,” he said.
The tournament officially started on Monday, 3 August 2026, with the Caddies’ Competition at Uganda Golf Club.
A total of 59 caddies took part in the opening competition, marking the beginning of this year’s tournament.
The Elite Amateur Competition and Professional Golfers’ Competition started today, Wednesday, 5 August.
The Elite Amateur Competition will run from 5 to 7 August, while the Professional Golfers’ Competition will run from 5 to 8 August 2026.
The tournament will culminate in the Main Event on Saturday, 8 August, bringing together corporate teams, sponsors, partners, golfers and guests for a day of golf, networking and fundraising.
The tournament also provides opportunities for new golfers to be introduced to the sport.
A New to Golf clinic will take place on Saturday, welcoming people who have never held a golf club or played on a golf course to experience the sport for the first time.
For Uganda Golf Club, the tournament is an opportunity to use golf to bring people together around a meaningful cause.
Uganda Golf Club Chairman Paul Nuwagaba said the strong support from partners reflects the sense of purpose behind the tournament and the trust people have in Watoto’s mission.
“I think it speaks to the sense of purpose that people associate with Watoto and this particular mission and how much everybody wants to be involved. I cannot say enough about how proud and honoured we at Uganda Golf Club are. We look forward to many more years of helping Watoto achieve this vision for the mothers,” Nuwagaba stated.
He pledged the continued support of Uganda Golf Club in hosting the tournament and working with Watoto and its partners to make the event a success.
“On behalf of the members, I can only pledge our support to continue to host this tournament and to continue to work with your partners. We will make sure that it is a special week and that at the culmination on Saturday, everybody will recognise the hope on the green that Watoto has brought to us,” he said.
CFAO Mobility Uganda, one of the tournament’s Lead Partners, is supporting the tournament for the third consecutive time.
Speaking at the briefing, CFAO Mobility Uganda Brand Manager Patricia Tusuubira said the company is proud to support an initiative that empowers vulnerable mothers.
“We are proud to be sponsors of the Watoto Golf Tournament for the third time running. We are here because we believe in this wonderful cause of supporting and empowering vulnerable mothers to grow their businesses. When you empower a mother, you don’t just empower her, but you also empower her family, her community and her country,” Tusuubira said.
CFAO Mobility Uganda has also added to the excitement of this year’s tournament by offering two vehicles as hole-in-one prizes.
A Suzuki S-Presso will be available at Hole 9, while a Suzuki XL6 will be available at Hole 17 at Uganda Golf Club.
Patricia added that CFAO Mobility Uganda is committed to supporting the tournament beyond this year.
“This is something we are passionate about. We are not only here for these three years, but we are here for the long run,” she said.
Equity Bank Uganda has also supported the tournament with Ugx 10 million. The Bank is among the Supporting Partners contributing to the tournament’s goal of empowering vulnerable mothers.
The tournament has received strong support from a wide range of organisations that have come together to support the cause.
The Lead Partners include: Uganda Golf Club, Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA), Deo Akope Foundation, Power FM, CFAO Mobility Uganda and Britam.
The Supporting Partners include: Fenon, East African Development Bank (EADB), Bank of Uganda, Fairway Hotel, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, ONOMO Hotel Kampala, Imbogo Safari, Equity Bank Uganda, Handel Advocates, MTN Uganda, Endiro Coffee, Stanbic Bank Uganda, Absa Bank Uganda, M&K Advocates, Capital One Group (COG), Eighth Wonder, KCB Bank Uganda, Opportunity Bank Uganda, NCBA Bank Uganda and Jubilee Insurance, among others.
The 2026 tournament is also an important part of Watoto’s journey towards 2034, when the organisation will celebrate 50 years of impact.
Over the next eight years, Watoto aims to empower 10,000 vulnerable mothers across Uganda and South Sudan.
Since 2008, the Watoto Neighbourhood Programme has equipped vulnerable women with practical business skills, mentorship and entrepreneurship training.
To date, more than 8,700 women in Uganda and South Sudan have benefited from the programme.
The tournament also features a total prize structure of Ugx 34 million, including Ugx 24 million in prize money and Ugx 10 million going directly towards the Watoto cause.
Championship trophies will recognise winners in the Professional, Elite Amateur and Caddies’ categories.
As golfers take to the course this week, the focus remains bigger than the competition.
Every game, partnership and contribution is helping create opportunities for mothers to build businesses, support their families and create better futures for their children.
Watoto Church is calling on companies, organisations, golfers and individuals to join the cause through participation, sponsorship, donations and partnerships.
