Nakalembe makes debut at Mombasa Safari tour, hails Uganda Airlines

Entebbe, Uganda | PHILLIP CORRY | Irene Nakalembe, is enjoying the transition from amateur to pro golf, and said the dividends are already their to be seen.

The Entebbe based lady professional golfer is just back from the third leg of the Safari tour that was held in Vipingo Ridge, Baobab PGA championship course in Mombasa recently.

“I appreciate the support and ticket that was provided to me by our national carrier Uganda Airlines for me to travel for the third leg of the tour. I also appreciate all the support they have given throughout even when I was still an amateur. I will also like to thank my home club for always supporting and encouraging me on the course and in tournaments,” Nakalembe said.

Nakalembe said profoessional golfers can only thrive if given support to settle and focus on the game and not other financial diversions.

Nakalembe is the second lady professional golfer in the country. The other is Flavia Namakula.

She recently  made history becoming the first lady professional golfer making the cut at the Uganda Open, which was the first leg of the Safari tour. It was her first attempt at a major pro event in the country.

“The transition has not been easy but after playing the Open and other events I feel positive and hopeful,” Nakalembe added. “I have picked some positive lessons on the course and I believe I grow from there.”

Before she turned professional, Nakalembe set the standards on the course having won the Entebbe Ladies a record 7 times in a row and also won the 2021 Uganda Ladies Open to seal her first senior major on the local amateur golf scene.

She has been decorated thrice in Nigeria after winning the Ikoy Ladies Open twice that is 2018, 2019 and 2020.

When she won the Tanzania Ladies Open in 2021, she was sponsored by Uganda Airlines as well.

Nakalembe and Flavia Namakula are the only Ugandan lady professional golfers on the tour.

The other professional is Sweden based Norah Mbabazi Kagonyera, who played on the Ladies Sunshine tour in South Africa.