Uganda’s professional golf circuit is set for another significant milestone as the Pearl of Africa (POA) Golf Series prepares for what promises to be one of its most competitive tournaments yet, with organizers also closing in on a partnership with the Sunshine Development Tour and BET Tour.
The tournament, scheduled for September 16-19 at the par-71 Entebbe Sports Club, is expected to feature the country’s leading professionals, including Ronald Rugumayo, Grace Kasango, Rodell Gaita Taddeo, David Kamulindwa and Philip Kasozi.
Rugumayo remains the benchmark in Ugandan professional golf after a string of impressive performances, but Kasango has emerged as one of the season’s standout players and will be among the favourites after claiming victory at the most recent POA event in Entebbe. His triumph came after holding off a spirited challenge from Kasozi in one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
With the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open preceding the event, organizers expect the country’s top professionals to arrive in peak competitive form, adding further intrigue to the championship.
The 2026 edition will also introduce a new dimension as the POA Golf Series works towards bringing the Sunshine Development Tour and BET Tour on board. Discussions between the parties have been ongoing for more than a year, with organizers indicating that an official announcement could be made soon.
“We think that we have made great progress and a more definitive announcement will be made in due course,” POA chairman Edward Nyatia said.
“The idea ultimately is that we want to attract the best golfers in Uganda, and the best golfers in the region so that we offer the best competition for the fans and attractive packages for the pros.”
The tournament will officially be launched this Wednesday, with organizers also unveiling plans for a fan village experience around the 19th hole aimed at enhancing the spectator experience throughout the four-day event.
Launched early last year, the Pearl of Africa Golf Series was created to strengthen Uganda’s domestic golf calendar while providing elite amateurs and professionals with regular high-level competition across some of the country’s premier courses. Previous tournaments have been hosted at Entebbe Sports Club, Uganda Golf Club and Lugazi Golf Hills & Country Club.
The series has also produced a growing list of champions, with Marvin “Max” Kibirige, Herman “Deco” Mutebi and Rugumayo lifting the inaugural professional titles before Kasango added his name to the winners’ list this year.
Beyond competition, POA says it remains committed to positioning Uganda as both a golfing and tourism destination.
POA founder Juliet Anena said the organization’s long-term vision is to combine elite golf with sports tourism to showcase the country’s attractions while supporting the game’s growth.
“Our plan is to give the whole package,” Anena said. “We want to use elite golf to sell Uganda, but we also want to use the various opportunities in Uganda to support the development of golf in the best ways we can. We want a win-win for the sport and the Pearl of Africa.”
With an increasingly competitive field, growing crowds and the prospect of regional tour collaboration, this year’s Pearl of Africa tournament is shaping up to be one of the biggest events yet for Uganda’s rapidly evolving professional golf scene.
