Akena's stellar year: From Uganda Open to African Championships

Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club’s Reagan Akena is a man on a mission after dominating on the greens, in what has been a breakthrough year for the 19-year-old.

Akena not only won Uganda’s biggest golfing event the Uganda Open but also clinched the Mbale, Kakira, Tororo, Jinja, Lugazi Centennial Open, and the Kilelesi Lugazi outing and the Kilelesi Grand Kwaca finale that saw him pocket over sh3m in Entebbe.

The national team-player edged his captain Joseph Cwinyaai in dramatic fashion clinching the championship by one-stroke to bag sh3.8m prize money, the first cash prize from a local event in Uganda.

Peace Kabasweka poses with the Entebbe Ladies Open winners trophy. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

He also took Africa by storm by shooting an opening round four-under 68 to take a one-stroke joint lead alongside Egyptian Issa Amr Abou Elela as the All-Africa Golf Team Championship teed-off at the Bulawayo Golf Club in Zimbabwe. He would help Uganda finish sixth out of eleven in the championship in which he finished sixth overall out of 64 in the individual standings. He was also part of the team that finished second in the Africa Region IV championship played in Kigali.

“This is my best year ever in my career and I’m sure it is going to open for me more opportunities so I’m not going to give up but only work to get better,” Akena said.

“I got a customized kit from the R&A coupled with the training I received from them helped me to improve greatly. Their coaches have been passing on knowledge via online,”

David Plenderleith in action. PHOTO: Michael Nsubuga

He was set to rewrite another piece of history in Zimbabwe but for the unfamiliar conditions that disorganized his game plan.

“The course wasn’t in the best condition, so the last two days it was too windy and I was forced to change my original strategy and ended up with those scores,” Akena, who also ventured in Kenyan tournaments, stated.

“Special thanks to the Mehta family for giving us the opportunity to play golf and to my personal sponsor Isaac Ogwal for the continuous support. He is the one who brought me into the game and gave me the first opportunity to play and has been supportive throughout,” Akena stated.

He is now looking forward to playing in next year’s Magical Kenya Open and the Africa Amateur Golf Championships in South Africa where he also hopes to leave a mark.

Kabasweka stars in the lady’s category

Having won four majors and attained four second-place finishes Tooro golfer Peace Kabasweka was the other standout in the ladies’ section despite having missed the Uganda Ladies Open championship due to family commitments.

Kabasweka with a World Amateur Golf Ranking of 151 clinched four local majors that included the Tooro Ladies Open at her home club, the Entebbe, Mbale and the Lira opens this year as well as first place in the Absa UGC Captain’s Bell tournament, and also finished seond in the Zambia Ladies Open. She spiced up these wins with victory in the 49th Ikoy Ladies Open in Nigeria, after rounds of 83, 77 and 80 to win by 13 strokes.

She was also part of the Ugandan national ladies’ golf team that carded an overall 475 gross over 54 holes to finish fourth out of 20 countries as the 16th edition of the All-Africa Challenge Trophy ended at the Tazegzout Golf Course, Agadir, in Morocco. She finished 8th out of 59 in the individual standings.

Kabasweka was not done yet as she alongside fellow Ugandans Joseph Cwinyaai, Abdu Kakeeto, and Martha Babirye returned 106 Stableford points to win the 2024 KCB East Africa Golf Tour Grand Finale played at the Sigona Golf Club.  The winning team walked away with Ksh1m (sh28m) and a spot at next year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open (MGKLO) in Vipingo Ridge.

Godfrey Nsubuga’s star also continued to shine brightest this year as he became the first Ugandan to play in the US Amateur Golf Open 2024 championship. The youngster currently pursuing a Marketing degree at Winston Salem State University on a golf scholarship in the US also attained the best world ranking ever (205) for a Uganda golfer after registering four wins and 16 top-ten finishes in the 2023-2024 season.

Professionals continue to grind

The professional’s events are still few and far in between but the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open still offers the biggest kitty (sh150m) from which they can cash in. But the 11 Ugandan pros that made the cut only took off about sh15m. Uganda’s best performers in the event were Phillip Kasozi and Abraham Ainamani who finished tied for sixth and ninth respectively.

But other individual pros like Grace Kasango, Marvin Kibirige, Rodell Gaita, Ronald Otile and David Kamulindwa among others picked victories in the growing professional’s tournaments. On the other hand, Ronald Rugumayo also made history by becoming the first Ugandan to compete in DP World Tour and Challenge Tour events in Germany and France respectively.

He featured in the 2024 European Open at the Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg, Germany, in June for which he was invited following his heroics in the Magical Kenya Open early this year, when he became the first Ugandan to ‘make the cut’ at a DP tour event in the Magical Kenya Open. He also played in the Blot Open de Bretagne, and the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, in France in June.

Lady professional Irene Nakalembe enjoyed her best season so far by claiming

Victory in a professional event as part of Ghana’s 67th Asantehene Open Golf Championship. Another notable performance was registered by her during the Seniors Professional’s Golf Tournament where she finished 8th among the 20 men that made the cut.

The best of the Monthly Mugs

Entebbe Club golfers Saidi Kirarira and Jovia Tugume amassed 557 and 575nett respectively from their best eight rounds each to top the MTN Monthly Tees Order of Merit in their respective categories in Entebbe.

At the Uganda Golf Club, Andrew Opio and Nancy Nsubuga celebrated similar feats after accumulating 756 and 715nett respectively. Still in Entebbe, Herbert Kamuntu and Bridget Basima emerged as the overall winners in the famous and growing I&M Katogo Golf series.

At the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa David Plenderleith amassed 1577points over 45 rounds with an average of 35 points, to beat his nearest rival Duncan Kaggwa (1446) to the I&M Bank-sponsored Serena 63 series championship by 131 points. Businessman Henry Kibuuka was the other star at the facility, winning the biggest award for the non-members of the Serena course-a year’s membership.

Olivia Ahumuza was the other winner from Kigo having won the inaugural edition of the America Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Golf Open. The feat that came with an air ticket to Europe courtesy of Brussels Airlines.

The most active clubs remain the Uganda Golf Club and Entebbe Clubs but the other upcountry clubs like Lugazi Hills, Jinja, Tooro, Kinyara, Mbale, Mbarara, Kilembe and in Namulonge have held at least one major. Namulonge and Kinyara in particular remain popular because of their enticing prizes from their sponsors Equity Bank and Kinyara Sugar in conjunction with their galaxy of sponsors from the insurance world.