This year has been the most successful one in the history of golfing in Uganda.

The country defended the East Africa Challenge Trophy for their fifth success in Kigali.

The players won the four-ball better-ball and foursomes for a total of 18.5 points, beating Kenya to second with 17.5.

Rwanda at 14.5 points finished third, followed by Tanzania at 7 and Ethiopia at 2.5 points. The championship was held from November 19 to 22 at the par 72 Nyarutarama Golf Course.

The message from Ugandan coach Amos Kamya was that the continental victory in April in Kampala at the Africa Zone Six Golf Championships wasn’t a fluke.
Uganda became the only other team to have beaten South Africa after Kenya beat them in 2010.

The East Africa Golf Challenge was first played in 1999; Kenya has won the trophy 11 times.

“The guys were determined to wrest back the initiative and take the lead,” said Kamya on how the Ugandan players turned the tables on Kenya, who were leading going into the final day, to triumph.

Uganda gained 7.5 points, out of a possible 8, in the pairings.

“I’m happy our hard work has paid off. We planned for this and worked for it, especially the foursomes and fourballs where we got 7.5 points. I’m proud of what we have achieved,” Kamya told the Ugandan media.

Uganda team captain Ronnie Bukenya said they prepared well for the pairings because they knew that was where the game would be won.
“We have now proved that we are very good in matchplay, and now have to improve our strokeplay,” said Bukenya.

The Uganda golf federation restructured its programmes in the national team selection and training, reducing the age limit for those making the final team to 30 and below, with two senior players battling for 12 slots.

The handicaps for the national team were also pushed down to four and below.

A six-week training camp and the introduction of gym sessions, physiotherapy, dieting and improved nutrition also led to the good result.

“We have not changed anything after winning the continental title,” Kamya said. “I am glad the changes worked to win the continental title and retain the regional crown.”

Kamya said their early arrival in Kigali, where they participated in the Rwanda Open, helped with familiarisation with the course.

Ronald Otile was paired with Herman Mutebi, Ronald Rugumayo played alongside Happy Robert, Robert Oluba’s partner was Daniel Baguma, and captain Ronald Bukenya played with Andrew Byaruhanga.

Rwanda’s Afrodis Nyirinkwaya’s 3 and 2 win against Kenya’s Justus Madoya, and Tanzania’s Victor Joseph’s half point against Kenya captain Bhavnish Chandaria worked in Uganda’s favour.

Kenya needs to work on their pairings to compete with Uganda. It was evident that their pairing lacked co-ordination, with everyone on their own: Foursomes and four-ball better-ball events call for teamwork.

The defeat of Madoya and Chandaria by players from Rwanda and Tanzania shows that the rest are slowly catching up with Kenya.

The Kenya Golf Union only has the Easter Tannahill Shield and Nairobi Foursomes tournaments, which don’t give players enough exposure to paired events.

In addition, the Kenyan team rarely trains together to fine-tune their pairing combinations, leading to the disjointed display seen in the last two seasons.

Chandaria said Uganda seems to have been working on their structures.

He said Kenya could have won the diadem after the last four games went down to the 18th hole.

“I would term it a misfortune,” said Chandaria. “The course was also difficult and bumpy, but that isn’t an excuse.”

Chandaria said the change in the team with new players coming on board could have affected their performance. “Still, it is good for the game and the future looks bright,” he added.

Kenyan golf journalist and veteran golfer Larry Ngala said the players cannot expect to reap from where they haven’t sown.

“How did they expect to win if they only practiced for five days for a serious event while Uganda were in residential training for a month?” said Ngala.

“Every player is like he is on his own, and that was clearly manifested by the disjointed display in their four-ball better-ball format and foursomes,” he added.