- Event: Johnnie Walker Uganda Pro Open
- Date: September 1-5
The par-72 Kitante course welcomes a large, eager field of several African Professional golfers as the Johnnie Walker Uganda Pro Open tees off.
The course looks extremely good, neat, and pristine. The Greens are running fast, and now it’s time to see whose putting skills and chip shots will tame the unpredictable course.
“The course is in perfect condition, and it’s just how you flip the course that matters,” Andrew Odoh, from Nigeria, stated. “There are some tricky holes that can make you and break you on both sides of the course; it’s just how you have to manage your game plan and key clubs for certain holes, ” Odoh, who won the 2020 Kitante Open, added.
This year’s Pro Open has 7 past winners, including the soft-speaking winner Celestin Nsazuwera from Rwanda, seven-time winner Dismas Ndiza Anyonyi from Kenya, Uganda’s Deo Akope and Vincent Byamukama.
Uganda’s professionals have raised their game, with Ronald Rugumayo leading the onslaught together with Grace Kasango, who seems to have developed his mental game well; others are Phillip Kasozi, who has a good record at Kitante and is also on the East Africa Golf Swing in Kenya.
Other notable players to keep your eye on include Rodell Tadeo Gaita, David Kamulindwa, Abraham Ainamani, Marvin Kibirige, and Denis Anguyo.
2022 winner Robson Chinoi was caught up in transit at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as pilots and airport staff were on strike.
This year’s edition has golfers from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Cameroon, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, and Ghana.
A Ugandan professional last won the Open 14 years ago. Will that long run come to an end this year?
Pro Open roll of honour since 2007
- 2007: D. Indiza
- 2008: D. Indiza
- 2009: R. Ainley
- 2010: D. Indiza
- 2011: D. Indiza
- 2011: D. Indiza
- 2012: D. Indiza
- 2013: V. Byamukama
- 2014: D. Akope
- 2015: M. Muthiya
- 2016: J. Seale
- 2017: S. Ferriera
- 2018: D. Indiza
- 2019: M. Muthiya
- 2020: R. Chinoi
- 2021: J. Madoya
- 2022: R. Chinoi
- 2023: D. Indiza
- 2024: D. Moore
- 2025: C. Nsanzuwera