Dr. Jackson Were was voted in as the President of the Uganda Golf Union (UGU) last week during an elective assembly held at Uganda Golf Club in Kampala. Were had served as Vice President in the previous administration led by Moses Matsiko, and now he will be at the helm of the local golf governing body for the next two years.
Dr. Were will lead UGU with an executive that is composed of: Anthony Agaba – Vice President, Dr. Fred Magala – Hon. Secretary, Andrew Atuhaire – Treasurer, Paul Habyarimana – Committee Member, and Joseph Okudi – Committee Member.
Dr. Were, a distinguished figure in both the medical and golfing fields, outlined his vision for the future of the Uganda Golf Union and golf as a whole. He emphasized a focus on youth programs, collaborating with the government and private sector, supporting and training stakeholders and golfers, promoting sustainability of golf upcountry, and attracting more professional tournaments to Uganda.
In his inaugural address as UGU President, Dr. Were outlined a visionary roadmap that promises to shape the future of golf in the nation, charting a course that ensures the growth and prosperity of the sport and the local golfing community.
“Under my leadership, the Union will continue to collaborate with government to create an enabling environment that would make us create more value for all our stakeholders. Whether it is through growing the pie or providing thought leadership to our stakeholders,” Dr. Were said adding that; “the question of what we can do to assist the stakeholders and our golfers
always arise. In my opinion, we can stay committed to the Sport and assist to ensure the stakeholders and the golfers are supported through out their participation.”
In addition, Dr. Were noted that UGU will continue supporting and giving full commitment to all clubs and be the change agents by ensuring they are the catalyst to further growth in the local golfing structures and participation.
“We will look at revisiting our strategies, we firstly need to ensure that we rally our members together so as to harness and grow trust between the stakeholders, clubs and members; and as a collective body, build trust with government,” Dr. Were added.
Another key pillar of Dr. Were’s agenda is the development of youth programs within the sport. Recognizing the potential and talent among young golf enthusiasts, he pledged to implement initiatives that nurture and cultivate the next generation of golfers. With youth being the future of the Uganda golf, UGU commits to providing them with the support and opportunities they need to excel in the sport.
Dr. Were pledged to try bring international golf tournaments to Uganda. With Uganda being a beautiful country with good golf courses, now could be the time to showcase the country’s potential on the global stage. By hosting international tournaments, UGU will not only elevate the status of Ugandan golf but also boost tourism and create opportunities for the local golfers to compete at an international level. The promise to attract prestigious golf events to Uganda reflects Dr. Were’s determination to position the country as a notable destination on the international golfing circuit.
Dr. Were addressed the recently enacted National Sports bill amendment 2023, outlining the implications for sports bodies and emphasizing the necessity to align with the new requirements for the benefit of Uganda Golf.
Acknowledging the challenges inherent in leadership, Dr. Were conveyed confidence in the collective support of all stakeholders. “With your support, we will achieve our set objectives and propel Uganda Golf to new heights,” he affirmed.
Dr. Were took a moment to extend his appreciation to his predecessor, recognizing the efforts of the outgoing president in navigating the sport through unprecedented challenges, particularly during the global pandemic.
He concluded by expressing openness to advice and suggestions from the Union’s members for the future development of Uganda Golf. “For the love of the sport and our country, I look forward to a tenure filled with progress and success,” Dr. Were declared.
About Dr. Jackson Were
Dr. Were is a Medical Microbiologist presently serving his country at the National Referral
Hospital as the Head of Clinical Laboratory Services, providing technical and managerial leadership in the delivery of Clinical laboratory services. He is also a visiting Lecturer at Mbarara
University of Science and Technology in the department of Medical Laboratory Science, faculty of Medicine.
Were’s Leadership Experience
Chairperson of one of the biggest and vibrant Saccos in South Western Uganda. Were
served in Rotary as Service Projects Director;
RCMbarara, implemented a grant worth $120,000 and Chairperson – The Rotary Foundation (TRF) at RC Kajjansi.
Jackson Were is Paul Harris Fellow+3.
Were’s Golfing Journey
Were has served at various levels of
leadership in the administration of the sport.
Started off as Captain at Mbarara Sports Club for two terms before being elected as the Executive Committee Member of the Union
and later Vice President of the same organization, a position held for two years.
As the VP, Were successfully directed tournaments that include theprestigious Uganda Opens 2022 & 2023, All Africa Junior Championship 2023, Africa Region IV Championships and the recently concluded Victoria Cup Championship 2023.
Current Role
Dr. Jackson Were is the President of the Uganda Golf Union
Current UGU leadership
Jackson Were – President
Agaba Anthony – Vice President
Magala Fred – Hon. Secretary
Andrew Atuhaire- Treasurer
Paul Habyarimana – Committee Member
Okudi Joseph – Committee Member
Moses Matsiko – Immediate Past President
