Tusker increase kitty for Uganda Open
Uganda Golf Union President Johnson Omolo (left) and Captain Dr Anthony Kerali (2nd left) recieve a dummy cheque of Shs230m from Uganda Breweries Ltd managing director Nyimpini Mabunda (right) yesterday at Kitante Golf Club. Looking on is the company’s marketing and innovations director Juliana Kagwa. Photo by Eddie Chicco
What you need to know:
The Shs230m boasts of a Shs30m increment from last year’s cash offer and the professionals’ kitty of Shs110m is Shs10m more than last edition’s prize money
Entebbe. The five-in-one bonanza of the last edition that saw golfers swing irons for the biggest diadems on the local calendar consistently for one month is no more.
The ladies, juniors and pro-am events will have to be scheduled separately as is the 74th Uganda Amateur Open (August 10-13) and 11th Uganda Professionals Open (August 31-September 3) that were officially launched at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) yesterday.
Both prestigious showpieces will be hosted by UGC KItante’s par-72 championship course that is ‘literally good to go’, according to club captain Professor Anthony Kerali.
But even without the back-to-back action of last year, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) through their flagship premium brand of Tusker Malt Lager have ensured the two championships, expected to attract 500 players, are not deprived of glitz, glamour and grandeur. UBL Managing Director Nyimpini Mabunda, the Uganda Breweries Limited Managing Director, unveiled a Shs500m sponsorship package for the two Opens; handing over a Shs230m cheque to Uganda Golf Union (UGU) president Johnson Omolo and announcing another Shs270m, in kind, to cater for several other logisitics, during the presser.
Shs30m increment
The Shs230m boasts of a Shs30m increment from last year’s cash offer and the professionals’ kitty of Shs110m is Shs10m more than last edition’s prize money. “We have increased our sponsorship to resonate with the status that the game of golf has been attaining. The Open is an opportunity for renewal and developing of golfing skills in Uganda,” said Mabunda at the presser.
Omolo explained the changed scheduling of the event.
“We had consultations with the Sunshine Tour team before we set the dates. We are now certain of effective representation of professional golfers from the Sunshine and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tours as well as top amateurs from Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi,” said Omolo.
Upcoming tournaments
August 10-13:
74th Uganda Amateur Open
August 31 – September 3:
11th Uganda Professionals Open.
