The 74rd edition of the Uganda Golf Open tournament tournament that billed itself as among the richest in East and Central Africa, and a challenger to some of the South Africa’s top events, has earned an additional UGX 270 million shillings from top sponsor Tusker Malt Lager set for August.
This is the 6th year Uganda Breweries Limited, through its flagship premium beer Tusker Malt Lager has sponsored the annual tournament.
Fort Portal-bred Ronald Otile became the first-ever to clinch both Amateur and Professional titles at the five-in-one Tusker Malt Uganda Open at the par-72 Kitante course last August. Otile stroked nine-over-par 297 to end four rounds of gruelling golf atop the leaderboard from start to finish.
Speaking on Monday during the unveiling of the sponsorship deal in Kampala, outgoing UBL MD Nyimpini Mabunda said the Uganda Open was an excellent opportunity for the country to market itself in positive way. Out of the Sh500 million sponsorship, Sh230 million will be in kind and Sh270 million in cash.
Mabunda said the Open also offers local pros a chance to play with the best in world with the hope of winning the event.
“We have increased our sponsorship to resonate with the status that the game of golf has attaining. The Uganda Open provides an opportunity for renewal and development of golfing skills in Uganda, and initiation of new acquaintances while renewing old ones. As all true sports lovers know, the beauty of the whole exercise is not just in winning but in participating,” said Mabunda.
Plenty of entertainment
The Uganda Golf Club Course, which is considered to be one of the toughest courses in the country, will be awash with over 500 amateurs, pros and seasoned pros as they try their hand at not only outsmarting their competition and being bestowed upon the title of 2016 Winner of Uganda Golf Open.
Mr. Johnson Omolo, the President of the Uganda Golf Union explained that in order to attract a sizeable field from the Sunshine Tour and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) regions, the dates for this year’s Uganda Open had been chosen to suit their schedule.
“We had consultations with the Sunshine Tour team and we set our dates for this year’s Golf Open, so that we could have the participants from the tour also participate in Uganda. We are also hoping to attract players from the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) tour. The course at the Uganda Golf Club has been prepared to match the highest global standards. All tests that have been carried out on these luscious grounds have proved that the club has the capacity to handle a tournament of this magnitude,” he added.
So far, Uganda Golf Union has received confirmation of 15 national team entrants from Kenya led by Captain Bo Ciera for the Amateur event. Other entrants are from Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi fighting for a prize award of UGX 110 million shillings for the professionals.
The armatures will be playing from 10th – 13th August, 2016 while the professionals will play from 31st August – 3rd September, 2016.
