At least 10 Ugandan golfers have left for the 2024 Magical Kenya Open. The contingent’s participation in the prestigious tournament will happen next week, from February 21st to February 25th, at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, Kenya.
The team of one professional and nine amateurs emerged as the best performers during the Absa-sponsored Pro-Am tournament of the 2023 Uganda Golf Open. The continent’s flights and accommodation for the qualifying amateurs and some of its clients are financed by Absa Bank. The professional will receive a total contribution of USD 4,745 to cover his early travel to Kenya for practice and to participate in the full tournament programme. The bank has injected Rs. 130 million.
Michael Segwaya, Absa Bank Uganda’s Executive Director, said, “We are proud of the many accomplishments made by Uganda’s golf community as our players continue to demonstrate Uganda’s golf potential on the world stage. We are once again honoured to support their professional growth as part of our commitment to the advancement of the game of golf in Uganda in line with our purpose, which is to empower Africa’s tomorrow together, one story at a time.”
The golfers include: Michael K. Musiime, Paul Habyarimana, Ivan Arinaitwe, Patricia Mbabazi, Emma Tayebwa, Wendy Angu’deyo, Michael Tumusiime, Alex Mango, and Bob Matsiko. The amateurs will play on February 21, 2024, at the Pro-Am, while Ronald Rugumayo, the only professional golfer in the group, will play in the men’s professional tournament from February 22 to February 25, 2024.
Rugumayo is qualifying for the tournament for the second year in a row and is set to depart for Nairobi to commence his practice rounds on February 14, 2024, and the rest of the team will join him on February 21, 2024, at the Pro-Am.
He qualified for the Magical Kenya after posting a stellar performance in the just-concluded Safari Tour at the Karen Golf Club in Nairobi last week, bringing him to a total of 112 points after completing four out of the six tournaments in the tour.
Rugumayo expressed optimism for his performance in this year’s Magical Kenya Open and appreciated the bank for once again covering his and the rest of the contingent’s participation costs.
“I am very much looking forward to this year’s tournament, as I took this last year to perfect my game so as to represent Uganda to the best of my ability. We are excited for the opportunity to give it our best and make the nation proud,” he said.
