Charles Kagombe wins Mbarara Chairman’s Putter

Handicap 14 Charles Kagombe returned 38 Stableford points to emerge the overall winner of the Mbarara Chairman’s Putter Golf event on Saturday at the Mbarara Golf Course.

The 63-year-old smiled to the podium after beating a host of other participants from Entebbe, Kilembe, Kampala, Tooro, Kabale, and Mbarara golf clubs, as the return of golf in Mbarara showed good signs after a long spell of no activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kagombe’s closest challengers were group B winner and runner-up Alexander Matsiko of Mbarara Golf Club and Tooro’s Allan Awira who both returned 37 points.

“I am delighted to have emerged winner of this event. We have been hampered by the pandemic so our playing form levels have been affected, but I thank my group members for being good competitors,” Kagombe said.

Tooro's Lillian Koowe finished second

Mbarara’s Alex Mugisha returned 32 points to beat Tooro’s Yusuf Muhenda of a countback for the men’s Group A accolade, while Davis Kakuru won Group C after returning 31 points beating Kabale’s Joel Ntabu who returned 23.

The women’s group A winner’s accolade went to Tooro’s Joyce Kisembo who returned 43 points, beating her fellow Tooro Golf Club member and handicap 9 Lillian Koowe who came second on 34.

The event organised by Mbarara Golf Club Chairman Francis Kyegarukye and dubbed the Chairman’s Putter, was aimed at raising 26m for the purchase of the Green Mower for the course.

Tooro's Vicky Bagaaya in action

“The Golf Club has suffered a setback as there has not been any activity going on due to the pandemic and we believe with the return of events, we shall be able to revive it. The Green Mower has been our major problem which we would have sorted a long time if it were not the lockdown,” Mbarara Club chairman Francis Kyegarukye said.

In the outcome of the generous contributions on the day, 9.5m was raised towards the Green Mower purchase with one member offering to top up after all have forwarded their contributions.

Mbarara Chairman’s Putter results

Overall winner

Charles Kagombe                         38 points

Men-Group A

Alex Mugisha                            32 pts

Yusuf Muhenda                           32

Group B

Alexander Matsiko                       37

Allan Awira                             37

Group C

Davis Kakuru                            31

Joel Ntabu                              27

LADIES

Group A

Joyce Kisembo                           43

Lillian Koowe                           34

Group B

Sharon Musimenta                        44

Bridget Kasozi                          26

Senior Men above 55

Charles Kagombe                        38

Peter Obita                            34

Women above 55

Constance Katabazi                     39

Kate Muganga                           33