Ssekibejja has eyes on back-to-back glory at 82nd Uganda Golf Open

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Andrew Ssekibejja will attempt to join the class of back-to-back winners of the Uganda Open, when the 82nd Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open Championship tees off at the par 72 Kitante course, Uganda Golf Club on Wednesday.

The last time the prestigious tournament had a back- to-back winner was in 2016, when Ronald Otile snatched the second of this three titles.

The 26-year-old Ssekibejja carded 295 over 72 holes on his course – Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa  – to win his first title last year by five strokes at only his third attempt.

“I am looking forward to the Open and I am determined to retain my crown,” Sekibejja said, in a UGC press statement, ahead of the four day battle at the UGC.

“The course is in good shape and I hope it remains like this this week. I need to keep my game on the fairway and that has been my focus and also my putting.”

He will have a range of contenders, including former winner Joseph Cwinyaai and Godfrey Nsubuga, who is making a mark on the Kenya and Uganda golf circuit.

Nsubuga,  recently won the Tea Fields Trophy in Kericho, Kenya as he sought points to play in the Magical Kenya Open and also improve his World Amateur Golf Ranking points.

“I have put in a lot of rounds in Kenya and I have improved on my allround game as I go in for the Open,” Nsubuga said. “It will be a honour winning the Open.”

Cwinyaai, winner in 2021, will be eyeing his second crown and has received sponsorship from a US Technology company Inkozi, based in Florida, USA.

Other’s to watch out for will be Joe Kasozi, Michael Tumusiime including the foreign entrants from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

The tournament is sponsored by Uganda Breweries Limited under there brand Johnnie Walker. Co sponsors are Absa Bank Uganda, Crown Beverages, Pinnacle Security Limited, NBS Sport, NCS, Royal and Ancient, Medisell, HK Properties, Case Medical Services, Tusker Malt.

LIVE SCORES

AMATEUR OPEN DRAW  – DAY ONE – UGANDA OPEN 2023

Uganda Amateur Golf Open Winners since 1932

1932 – H.Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)

1933 – H.Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)

1934 – R.W Hooker (Muthaiga Golf Club)

1935 – J.D Rankine (Uganda Golf Club)

1936 – J.D Rankine (Uganda Golf Clun)

1937 – H. Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)

1938 – R.W Bun (Mombasa Golf Club)

1939 – J.E Higginson

1940 – 1947 NOT HELD

1948 – D. F Stewart (Uganda Golf Club)

1949 – A.Q Roberts (Kitale Golf Club)

1950 – N.C Elwell (Uganda Golf Club)

1951 – N.C Elwell (Mwanza Golf Club)

1952 – J.R Cooke (Uganda Golf Club)

1953 – R.W Hooper (Nairobi Golf Club)

1954 – M.Johnson (Kabalae Golf Club)

1955 – J.R Oglive (Kitale Golf Club)

1956 – J.R Oglive (Kitale Golf Club)

1957 – Ian McAdam (Uganda Golf Club)

1958 – Brian Malone (Uganda Golf Club)

1959 – Ian McAdam (Uganda Golf Club)

1960 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)

1961 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)

1962 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)

1963 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)

1964 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)

1965 – Muhammed Rajab (Nairobi Golf Club)

1966 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)

1967 – I.Pattinson (Dar es Salaam Golf Club)

1968 – G.Burrows (Uganda Golf Club)

1969 – M.Rajab(Nairobi Golf Club)

1970 – M.Couma (Uganda Golf Club)

1971 – J. Kahugu (Sigona Golf Club)

1972 – Ben Okello (Masaka Golf Club)

1973 – Tom Taban (Uganda Golf Club)

1974 – Alex Okodan (Uganda Golf Club)

1975 – Ramathan Kayamba (Uganda Golf Club)

1976 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1977 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1978 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1979 – 1980 – Not held

1981 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)

1982 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)

1983 – Sadi Onito (Uganda Golf Club)

1984 – John Mucheru (Uganda Golf Club)

1985 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1986 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1987 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1988 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1989 – Allan Njoroge (Muthaiga Golf Club)

1990- Dedan Kagonyera (Kabale Golf Club)

1991 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1992 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)

1993 – John Gavin (Uganda Golf Club)

1994 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1995 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1996 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)

1997 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)

1998 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)

1999 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)

2000 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)

2001 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)

2002 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)

2003 – Charles Yokwe (Jinja Golf Club)

2004 – David Odhiambo (Nyanza Golf Club)

2005 – Charles Yokwe (Jinja Golf Club)

2006 – Amos Kamya (Entebbe Golf Club)

2007 – Nicholas Rokoine (Muthaiga Golf Club)

2008 – George Olayo (Entebbe Golf Club)

2009 – Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)

2010 – Brian Mwesigwa (Kabale Golf Club)

2011 –Rogers Byaruhanga (Uganda Golf Club)

2012 – Phillip Kasozi (Uganda Golf Club)

2013 – Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)

2014 – Kitata (Entebbe Golf Club)

2015 – Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)

2016 – Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)

2017 – Ronald Rugumayo (Tooro Golf Club)

2018 – Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)

2019 – Daniel Nduva (Nyali Golf and Country Club)

2020 – John Lejirma (Kenya Railway Golf Club)

2021 – Joseph Cwinya-ai (Tooro Golf Club)

2022 – Andrew Ssekibejja (Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa Club)