The sixth Namulonge Ladies Open wrapped up over the weekend with competitive golf, celebration, and a new focus on the environment at Namulonge Golf Club.
Peace Kabasweka won after a dramatic final round. She made an eagle on the par-4 18th hole and a birdie on the par-4 3rd hole to recover from earlier bogeys and beat Meron Komugisha in a close finish. Her final round of three-over 73 was enough to win after three days of tough competition.
Speaking during the event, Lady Captain Sheila Aine described the 2026 edition as one of the club’s most significant yet, not only because of the competition but because it marked a symbolic step toward the club’s long-term dream of transforming its nine-hole course into a full 18-hole championship layout.
“We are proud of this year’s tournament because it introduced something new, tree planting, which has never happened here before,” Aine said. “It is part of the expansion journey of our course from nine holes to 18 holes. Members are now seeing physically that the course is growing.”
About 130 golfers took part across several categories. The silver category, for the top players, played 54 holes from Thursday to Saturday. Bronze players made up the middle tier, while seniors and invited men also joined in on Saturday during the main ladies’ event.
Aine explained that pairings evolved based on player performance after the opening round, creating more competitive matchups as the tournament progressed. The top four finishers shared a prize package worth Shs1.8 million.
Beyond golf, the tournament promoted women’s empowerment and environmental care. In partnership with IPT, players took part in a tree-planting exercise throughout the day, with golfers returning after completing rounds to plant seedlings around the course, which was spear headed by Equity Bank.
The initiative saw the bank plant 300 trees as part of the expansion of the course to 18-hole facility. It also, symbolized more than environmental awareness. For the club leadership, it represented the roots of a larger future.
The event ended with a prize-giving ceremony and the traditional “19th hole” celebrations, where winners, sponsors, and players gathered to mark the success.
Aine thanked Equity Bank for its support of women’s golf in Uganda.
“They have been supportive all the way. Supporting women’s golf is not something we take for granted. We are really grateful and ask them to continue partnering with us,” she said.
As the sun set over Namulonge’s greens, the sixth Ladies Open left more than just winners and trophies. It planted ambition for a bigger course, stronger women’s golf, and a greener future for the sport.
