The General Secretary of the local sports governing body, Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel, has voiced his confidence in the abundance of golf talent within the country.
He expressed this sentiment as he flagged off the national junior golf team, which will travel to Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, to represent Uganda in the All-Africa Junior Team Championship.
During the flag-off ceremony held at the National Council of Sports Headquarters on Wednesday, Dr Ogwel commended the Uganda Golf Union for their effective work in identifying and nurturing talent.
“I see well-disciplined, ambitious, and talented young individuals who aspire to develop their skills and careers to their full potential. Go and shine for Uganda in Tunisia.”
The national junior team is scheduled to fly to Tunisia on Sunday to compete in the All-Africa Junior Team Championship, where they will compete against 14 other nations.
Powerhouse South Africa is consistently a strong favourite and the most probable country to finish at the top.
The top two countries will qualify for the Junior Golf World Cup in Japan later this year. Uganda has participated in this event twice in recent years.
Uganda’s team comprises four boys and three girls. The boys are Anthony Otukei, Peter Mayende, Shaka Kariisa, and John Paul Rugumambaju.
The female golfers are Rachael Laura Natukunda, Keisha Wiltshire Kagoro, and Elizabeth Danelle Kawalya. Team manager Paul Habyarimana and coach Flavia Namakula will accompany the team.
Uganda Golf Union President Dr Jackson Were expressed his gratitude to the government of Uganda for funding the team’s travel expenses.
“Thanks to the government, through NCS, the Union has adequately prepared for the Tunis competition, and we are confident that our boys and girls will not disappoint us.”
The President of the Uganda Ladies Golf Union, Rita Akot Apell, also acknowledged the government’s support for the national golf teams over the past few years.
