About 170 amateur golfers from Uganda and Kenya took part in the return leg of the Migingo Skirmishes, part of the cross border I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series tournament, held on Saturday, May 2, at Entebbe Club. Kenya fielded a total of 69 golfers, coming from different golf clubs in Kenya.
The tournament’s main event, played under the match play format, saw the Ugandan team take the bragging rights after posting a total of 16.5 points against Kenya’s 11.5. The latter came into the event as defending champions after winning the inaugural edition in 2024 at Limuru Country Club, but the home side ensured the title stayed.
Katogo Captain Elly Mukasa expressed pride in his team for the good job done, crediting their strong showing and consistency across the round.
“We had a good field and we turned up well. In golf it’s always how you turn up on the day, and I think we managed the course better, stayed steady, and picked up points where it mattered,” he said.
He however emphasized that the outing was beyond prizes. “The Katogo spirit has always been about brotherhood first, competition second. Yes, we all want to hit the perfect shot and maybe walk away with a prize, but more importantly, we want to leave the course with stronger friendships than we came with.”
James Githinji, the Limuru Club Captain when the first Migingo Skirmishes was held, travelled for the return leg, and stood out for being extremely lively both on and off the course.
“We have enjoyed our time here and we will surely be back before long. We had a strong contingent of golfers from different clubs, including Railway, Sigona, Karen, and Royal Nairobi. This clearly shows how much this trip meant for us. We hope to continue building on this partnership,” he said.
In his remarks, Kihara Maina, the I&M Bank Regional CEO, and the initiator of the Migingo Skirmishes, noted that the bank is committed to investing in initiatives that create long-term value beyond the game itself.
“Increasingly, we see real outcomes in the relationships and opportunities that emerge from interactions like these. Because it is often in spaces such as this that partnerships are formed, ideas are exchanged, and new business journeys begin. And in many ways, that reflects what is happening more broadly across East Africa today.,” he said.
Maina added that as a regional bank, I&M is committed to meeting the needs of its clients wherever they are in the region.
“A good example of this is I&M BRISK, our regional banking solution, which enables customers to carry out deposits, withdrawals, and transfers seamlessly across all branches in the region. In practical terms, it means you can walk into any I&M Bank branch in the region and access your funds in local currency, just as you would at your home branch,” he added.
I&M Bank Uganda CEO- Robin Bairstow, who was flanked by his Exco team said that the Migingo Skirmishes holds great importance to the I&M Bank Katogo series.
“What started as a simple invitation to Limuru in 2024, gave birth to a tradition of the tournament hosting regional legs across borders. Last year, we travelled to Kigali, Rwanda, and the Katogo fraternity surpassed expectations in numbers. This September, we are heading down south—to South Africa—for another cross-border leg,” he said.
“Through this series, we have seen firsthand how golf can bring together people from different sectors and backgrounds—building a strong sense of togetherness across the region. Today’s event is a clear testament to how working together through golf can drive regional connection and cooperation,” he added.
From the day’s results, in the subsidiary event, played under stable ford format, Peace Kabasweka topped the Ladies Group A with 36 points, while Esther Aganyira led Ladies Group B with 35 points.
In Men’s Group A, Twinemanzi Tumubweine carded 35 points to emerge victor, while Mark Nahabwe led with 44 points in Group C. Kenya’s Andrew Koech claimed top honors in Men Group B with 41 points.
Annette Nakiyaga, the I&M Bank Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, stated that this year is a landmark year for the series, reflecting its steady growth, increasing regional appeal, and the strengthening of cross border engagement among golfers.
“For the previous two years we’ve been having just one cross-border leg of the series but this year things are changing, and we’ve started by hosting a regional event. The year is still fresh so expect more in that aspect as we’re very keen on growing the series beyond Uganda, creating more opportunities for growth, and building a stronger golfing community beyond our borders,” she said.
The 19th hole experience, hosted by comedian Patrick Idringi ‘Salvador’, saw the DJ pay tribute to the visiting Kenyan team by playing mixes that featured top Kenyan songs, mainly throwbacks.
The 2026 I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series is supported by Johnnie Walker, Victoria Motors, GA Insurance, RwandAir, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa, Kampala Serena Hotel, Fenon Events, Goldman’s Luxury, NBS Sport, Case Hospital, and Time Cop Security.
