2026 POA Golf Series (Round 1)
Top 17:
T1 – Emma Ogwang (Uganda) – 66
Godwin Okoko (Nigeria) – 66
Willy Deus Kitata (Uganda) – 66
T4 – De Smidt Ruan (South Africa) – 67
T4 – Ronald Rugumayo (Uganda) – 67
T6 – Slade Pickering (South Africa) – 68
T6 – Deo Akope (Uganda) – 68
T6 – Millar Matt (England) – 68
T6 –Sidney Wemba (Zambia) – 68
T10 – Daniel Nduva (Kenya) – 69
T10 – Phillip Kasozi (Uganda) – 69
T10 – Marvin Kibirige (Uganda) – 69
T10 – Grace Kasango (Uganda) – 69
T10 – Rodell Tadeo Gaita (Uganda) – 69
T10 – Bulhan Matovu (Uganda) – 69
T10 – Ngcobo Thabiso (South Africa) – 69
T10 – Van Zyl Chante (South Africa) – 69
When it rained an hour before the official tee-off times for the opening round of the 2026 Pearl of Africa (POA) Golf series, different golfers had varying thoughts, ideas, and reflections.
To Emma Ogwang, a professional golfer born and bred at the Entebbe Club, the rains were a sign of good omen.
Ogwang played arguably the best golf round of his life, competing against some of the continent’s finest professionals, many of whom are Sunshine Tour players.
“I knew with the rains, I would do well since the ground was now holding well,” Ogwang, who played a 5-under-66 on the round, stated.
He is tied with another Ugandan, Willy Deus Kitata, another Entebbe-grown golfer, now based in the United States of America, as well as Nigerian Godwin Okoko.
Ogwang opened with a birdie on the par-4-hole 1 and was consistent with 8 pars for the remaining front nine.
At the back, he had 5 birdies, one bogey and 3 pars in a tremendous round of golf.
“When I birdied hole 1, which is troublesome to me, I knew the day would be good for me. It gave me the confidence for the rest of the 17 holes,” he added.
Thirty golfers are all under par; a justification that stamps how competitive the action is in Entebbe.
Reigning Uganda Professional Open champion Ronald Rugumayo (67), Deo Akope (68), Phillip Kasozi (69), Marvin Kibirige (69), Grace Kasango (69), Rodell Tadeo Gaita (69), Bulhan Matovu (69), Joseph Cwinya-ai (70), Peter Ssendaula (70), David Kamulindwa (70), Abraham Ainamani (70) as well as amateurs Joseph Cwinya-ai and Anthony Otukei (70) are the other Ugandans who all played under par.
Round two will come on Friday, 18th September 2026, as the golfers eye improved scores.
It will be the same day of the cut to determine the successful crop that will march to the final round on Saturday.
The prize money kitty is $20,000 (at least Ug. Shs 70,000,000).
Uganda Golf Union (UGU), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Entebbe Club, Sunshine Development Tour, East African Swing, Betway Tour and others are all strategic partners.
This is Uganda’s first Official World Ranking professional golf tournament under the Sunshine Development & BET Tour.
