Veteran woman golfer Victoria Nkata laid to rest

Victoria Namutebi Nkata, the pioneer indigenous Ugandan woman golfer who passed on last Saturday (February 20) was on Tuesday (February 23) laid to rest at the family’s graveyard at Buso Lulagala, in Wakiso district.

The function was preceded by a funeral service presided over by the parish-priest of Mpereerwe, Anglican Church, the Rev Herbert Ssettumba. Clerics including Rev John Kiyingi (from St Stephen’s Church of Uganda Mpereerwe), Canon Stephen Gelenga (from Kamwokya) and Rev Juliet Nakamatte Nalongo, also graced the function.

Namutebi, who died aged 93, was generally acknowledged for her achievements in sports and education. Many people spoke well of her illustrious teaching career. Others acknowledged with admiration her exemplary Christian life, and, her commitment to the family.

The President of Uganda Ladies’ Golf Union, Anne Abeja, paid tribute to Namutebi for her enormous contribution to the development of golf. She further praised her for her record achievement of being the first indigenous Ugandan woman to play golf, when she joined the prestigious sport with her husband Daniel Nkata (RIP) in the 60s.

She said the Ladies’ Golf Union had opted to expand the annual Nkata Memorial Golf Tournament, in order to appreciate Namutebi’s contribution to the development of the sport. She said the tournament will now be called: Victoria and Daniel Nkata Memorial Tournament. Namutebi was also praised by the Chairman of Entebbe Golf Club, Oscar Ssemawere.

Janet Nansubuga Kiyimba, the younger sister of Namutebi, described her as a highly practical woman, who worked hard with her husband Daniel Nkata and raised their children well.

Livingstone Kayanja, one of the leaders of the revival movement of the Church of Uganda (Abalokole Abazuukufu) called Namutebi a true Born-again Christian, who inspired many Christians by her good Christian examples. She said Namutebi had not only lived an exemplary life as a Born-again Christian, but had also used her resources to support the ministry.

The former Editor-in-Chief of the New Vision, David Sseppuuya (a son of the deceased) also spoke highly of his mother’s commitment to Christian salvation.

“Mummy loved God. She showed us the way to salvation. She helped us to understand that Christian salvation is the solution and most of us are now saved. Mummy worked hard with daddy, which is why all of us went to prominent schools such as King’s College Budo, Makerere College and Gayaza High School.”

Sseppuuya later admired his mother’s farming skills. He said she had a wonder cow, Esther, which produced 56 litres of milk a day, a national record that apparently has not yet been broken.

A brief on Victoria Namutebi Nkata

The late Victoria Namutebi Nkata was born on November 9, 1927. She attended Kikoma Primary School, Mityana Junior Secondary School, Buloba Teachers College and Moray House College of Education, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Subsequent to her graduation, she taught at Mityana Girls School (1951-56), King’s College Budo (1957-58), Ndejje High School/Nalinnya Lwantale (headmistress,1958-61), Bulembia School, Kilembe (1964) and Aga Khan School (1966). She also taught at Kiswa Primary School (1968-69), Namirembe Infants’ School (1970-73), Kawempe Muslim Primary School (1974), Namirembe Infants’ School (Headmistress, 1975-80), and, Namutebi Nkata Nursery & Primary School (Proprietor, Teacher, Administrator, Director, 1973)

Namutebi also did voluntary service with Kyadondo Young Women’s Christian Association (Chairperson, 1983), YWCA Uganda (Vice President, 1990) and Animal Breeding Center Entebbe (Board member, 1980-90s).

Namutebi became a Born-again Christian (Abazuukufu Revival Group, Kawempe) in 1988.

She was a congregant of All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, Bubajjwe Church of Uganda, St. Luke’s COU Kazo, St. Andrews COU Lugoba and St. Paul Ebenezer COU Bwaise/Kawempe.