Golfers battle for top honours at Entebbe Match Play Challenge

Rita Apell and Sandra Komakech, alongside Jackie Kamunyu and Berna Musanabera, are the only all-female pairs competing in this year’s Stanbic Entebbe Match Play Golf Challenge.

They have a chance to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champions, Lillian Koowe and Joyce Kisembo, as the tournament’s first round tees off at Entebbe Club on International Women’s Day.

With the defending champions—who triumphed over the men—absent from this year’s competition, the ladies’ pairs can draw inspiration from International Women’s Day as they take on Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Elly Mukasa, as well as Brian Manyindo and Mark Musinguzi, in their respective first-round matches.

Last year, Koowe and Kisembo defeated the men’s pair of Tony Kisadha and Richard Mwami 3&1 in the final, becoming the second all-female team to win the challenge after the Peace Kabasweka/Sheila Kesiime duo in 2018.

They had previously eliminated Tony Ojok and Picole Lukyamuzi 3&2 at the quarter-final stage before overcoming Lambert Tumwesigye and Walter Tukahirwa 4&3 in the semis.

The first match of the day will see Andrew Baguma and Peter Apell take on Phillip Kaddu and Timothy Lwanga, while the second match features Yunus Bbaale and Anthony Agaba against Walter Tukahirwa and David Tumwesigye.

Elsewhere, Lony Akena and Michael Monne will go up against Serwano Walusimbi and Paul Katuramu.

Rita Apell in action. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Other matchups include Richard Mugisha and Louis Tumukunde versus Michael Andama and Jim Kamanyi, Herbert Kamuntu and Stephen Ojambo versus Darius Mugisha and Dennis Kawalya, as well as Andrew Atuhaire and Esther Aganyira versus 2023 champions Twijuke Kirarira and Richard Mucunguzi.

Uganda Golf Union president Jackson Were will partner with Paul Habyarimana as they battle Andrew Kibaya and Edward Kabuchu, while Samson Agamile and Johnson Dairo will face Tony Ojok and Thomas Niwamara.

Other duels include Mark Namanya and Michael Tumusiime versus Lino Anguzu and Gordon Obitre, Moses Ssebugwawo and Charles Odere versus Daniel Muwooya and James Okema, as well as Mukasa Mulema and Abbas Luyombo versus Picole Lukyamuzi and Henry Nsubuga

The second edition of the championship will see golfers competing for a special cause—supporting Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital.

On top of vying for prizes from co-sponsors such as DStv for Business, CFAO Mobility, Johnnie Walker, and Uganda Airlines, golfers will also contribute towards purchasing critical life-saving equipment for the hospital, including an anaesthetic machine, incubators, and theatre beds.

A brand-new Suzuki Grand Vitara and a Yamaha FZN250 motorbike will be up for grabs for any golfer who scores a hole-in-one on the par-3 hole 2 or any of the par-3s during the qualifying round.

Uganda Airlines will also reward outstanding players with six air tickets to destinations including Mombasa, Johannesburg, and Dubai.