Uganda Open heats up as Akena and Cwinyaai renew rivalry on home turf

The battle for victory has been fierce, with only the slimmest of margins separating the winners in both the seniors' and ladies opens.

As the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship continues to unfold at Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club, September 3-6, anticipation builds for even more electrifying showdowns in the upcoming amateur and professional events.

The amateur competition will feature defending champion Joseph Akena, who is determined to retain the title he won in Entebbe last year, now competing on home turf.

“I’m very ready because I’m at home and I’m determined to do my level best. I will stick to my routine that helped me win last year and I think it will help me on my home course,” Akena said.

“Of course, there are some problematic holes but I know how to handle them. I have mostly focused on regaining my fitness because we have mostly been using carts in the US. I also changed my driver and hope to use that to my advantage in the long game,” Akena, who is fresh from competing in the in the US Amateur Championship qualifiers due in Washington said.

“I learnt a lot from the US and hope that experience can make the difference,”

His biggest challenger to his ambitions is Joseph Cwinyaai who is also enjoying good form since he competed in the Magical Kenya Open in February. The Toro Club-bred golfer has won several tournaments since, including a 16-under 200 over 54 holes as he topped the 7th edition of the Absa Captains Bell Tournament at the Uganda Golf Club. He has also won the Presidents Cup tournament at Serena, followed by the Mayombo Memorial Open championship on his home course in Fort Portal among other outstanding performances with the national team.

After winning the captain’s tournament in May, Cwinyaa who is gunning for his second title said he was in good shape for tournaments and was looking forward to more honours.

“It is that part of the year where it is busiest and it is about that time I started playing very well,” he noted.

It will be interesting to see whether Akena can complete a three-peat over Cwinyaai who he beat to last year’s championship by a stroke and lost to Akena by the same margin during the Nsubuga Invitational last December on the same course.

Last year, Akena led, while this year Cwinyaai has emerged as a strong contender. Another close competition between them is likely, with only narrow margins expected to decide the outcome.

Other top contenders in the 72-hole competition include Ibrahim Bagalana, Juma Abiti, Joseph Kasozi, Andrew Ssekibejja, James Madira, Titus Okwong, Michael Tumusiime, Peter Tumusiime, Peter Mayende, John Musiimenta and youngsters Peter Mayende, Ibrahim Ssemakula and Peter Otukei who have mastered their trade on the same course. 

Past winners

2024: Joseph Akena

2023: Godfrey Nsubuga

2022: Andrew Ssekibejja

2021: Joseph Cwinyaai

2020: John Lejrima