The new Uganda Ladies Golf Union President Rita Apell Akot is confident that she can transform the women’s game in the country within the next two years, with the support of all stakeholders.
Akot was voted into office during the Uganda Ladies Golf Union’s elective AGM, held at Uganda Golf Club on Thursday evening.
A golfer since 2017, Akot is clear on what she wants to accomplish in office.
“I am driven by the desire to see real change in the growth of kids’ and women’s golf,” she noted, adding, “I believe that by nurturing these areas, we not only create new opportunities but also strengthen men’s golf, which ultimately builds a more well-rounded sport.”
Akot previously served as the vice president of the Uganda Ladies Golf Union, working under Anne Abeja a few years ago.
She is certain of her objectives during her term of office. “We shall need the golf clubs in the country to be deliberate, and not passive, in creating incentives and programs that attract more women to the game.”
One of the key pathways to achieving this is through school programs that introduce and nurture interest from a young age, she added.
Akot’s executive committee includes Helen Lunkuse as vice president, Pamella Tumusiime as honorary treasurer, and Gloria Mbaguta as honorary secretary.
Outgoing Ladies Union president Doreen Mwesigye is the Immediate Past President (IPP). The committee members are Charity Atuhaire and Peace Kabasweka.
Akot further stated that her team will be deliberate in elevating the appeal of the game nationwide.
“We shall be marketable to attract support. And to do that, we must first be visible so that stakeholders can connect with and buy into our cause.”
Asked about the state of professional golf, where the ladies have three representatives; Evah Magala, Irene Nakalembe, and Flavia Namakula, she acknowledged that the challenges of women’s pro golf are not unique to Uganda. “However,” she says, “we must build a critical mass.”
Akot is a Chief Information Officer at Stanbic Bank. Her husband, Dr. Peter Apell, is an avid golfer and former chairman of Entebbe Club.
