The 2025 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open has brought new life to Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club, a par-71 course, now buzzing with the energy of golfers, fans, and visitors from across the region and beyond.
For many, this is their first time experiencing the sweeping valleys, forest edges, and sugar-green hills that make Lugazi one of Uganda’s most scenic golfing destinations. It is a reminder that the Open is not just a championship; it’s an opportunity to showcase the beauty and diversity of the country.
Yet amid the excitement, something quieter is unfolding. Every major tournament leaves an imprint on the land, and Johnnie Walker is keenly aware that protecting these spaces is as important as celebrating them. This year, recycling bins dot the course, safety measures have been heightened, and a renewed emphasis has been placed on caring for the greens. They are small, but deliberate actions, steps designed to ensure that the thrill of competition leaves behind memories, not damage.
Golf, after all, is a sport rooted in nature. Its elegance lies not just in precision swings and putts, but in the harmony between players and the landscapes they traverse. The 2025 Johnnie Walker Open at Lugazi is a perfect stage for this balance: world-class golf played against a backdrop of Uganda’s natural beauty, safeguarded by thoughtful practices that ensure it will remain just as breathtaking for future tournaments.
Christine Kyokunda, the Johnnie Walker Brand Manager at Uganda Breweries Limited, noted that the keep walking mantra does not stop at fun and enjoyment, but extends to preserving the spaces that make the fun possible.
“At Johnnie Walker, we believe every step forward must also be a step that protects. Through Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress agenda, we are committed to creating experiences that bring joy today, while preserving the spaces that make them possible tomorrow. It is the small but bold steps like these that will help us realise that goal. Golf depends on the greens, the air, and the landscapes, and it is only right that we care for these environments with as much passion as we celebrate them. That is what it truly means to Keep Walking.”
The sustainability efforts go beyond waste management. The Open has been deliberate in reducing single-use plastics, encouraging paper cups, and sensitising players and fans on mindful consumption.
Every step, however small, adds to the collective responsibility of protecting the greens that make the game possible.
It’s also a story of tourism meeting responsibility. Just as the Open has brought new energy to Lugazi, boosting hospitality, transport, dining, and cultural experiences, the sustainability measures are ensuring that this boom doesn’t come at the expense of the environment. By prioritising green practices, the tournament is positioning Uganda not only as a golf destination, but as a progressive host for international sporting events.
This year’s Johnnie Walker Uganda Open is a reminder that great tournaments aren’t just about trophies and prize money; they’re also about legacy. And the legacy being built in Lugazi is one where sport, tourism, and sustainability walk hand in hand.
