Ronald Rugumayo wasn’t even in the main pressure group for the final round of the 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Golf Open on Saturday, September 5, at Uganda Golf Club.
He was starting the day down in sixth, two shots behind overnight leader- Nigeria’s Godwin Okoko. With five players tied around him and a crowded leaderboard threatening to produce yet another foreign winner.
By evening, however, Rugumayo popularly known as Mayo, had turned that uncertainty into history.
Rugumayo produced a sensational final-round 6-under 66 to finish on 9-under 279, overturning Okoko’s advantage to win the Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Open by four strokes. His closing round, which featured eight birdies, was the tournament’s defining performance and delivered Uganda its first champion since Deo Akope won the title in 2014.
For more than a decade, the championship had belonged largely to visiting professionals. After Akope’s triumph in 2014, the roll of honour was dominated by players from Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
Celestine Nsanzuwera, of Rwanda, lifted the 2025 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open at the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club last year.
Rugumayo finally halted that dominance.
And he did it after appearing to lose control of the championship on Friday.
The Ugandan opened the tournament with a 69 and followed it with a 70 to remain firmly in contention. But a 74 in the third round, containing six bogeys, dropped him to a share of sixth at 3-under, leaving Okoko sitting two shots clear at the top. Okoko had produced a brilliant 67, while Rugumayo slipped into the chasing pack alongside Phillip Kasozi, Dismas Indiza, Samuel Njoroge and Paul Chidale.
Rugumayo responded when it mattered most.
“It is a dream come true,” Rugumayo said after receiving the trophy.
In a deeply emotional victory speech, the Toor born golfer dedicated his victory to Tooro’s fallen King- Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, whose sudden demise left the kingdom and the entire country startled.
“In the times of sorrow as we mourn our king, I have managed to put a smile on my people of Tooro. I dedicate my win to the late King Oyo,” Rugumayo said.
He also revealed how much the final round had occupied his mind after Friday’s setback.
“I did not sleep after day three, until 1am. I was pondering how to encounter the last four holes,” he said.
While Rugumayo climbed to the summit, the championship also showcased the depth and growing continental character of African professional golf. The field brought together players from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania, Cameroon, Malawi, Ghana and South Africa, creating a genuinely pan-African contest.
Nigeria’s Godwin Okoko finished second with 283, zambia’s Greg Snow was third with 284, Tanzania’s Nuru Mollel took fourth with 285, while title defending champion- Rwanda’s Celestine Nsanzuwera, closed strongly to finish fifth with 286.
The results offered their own Afro Exchange: Nigerians, Kenyans, Tanzanians, Rwandans, Zambians, Zimbabweans and Ugandans all featured prominently, underlining how the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open has become a meeting point for some of the continent’s leading professional golfers.
It was fitting, then, that the tournament’s final 19th-hole celebration was built around the same continental spirit.
The Johnnie Walker Afro Exchange 19th hole experience brought the tournament to a colourful close under the theme ‘Lagos Night.’ Ugandan and African music voice- Joshua Baraka, headlined the celebration, performing fan favorites from his catalogue, including his latest release YoYo.
DJs Shock and Vans provided a pan-African soundtrack.
The evening blended music, fashion, food and African culture, with guests embracing the Nigerian-inspired theme through white-and-green outfits.
For Johnnie Walker East Africa Brand Manager- Christine Kyokunda, the Afro Exchange added another dimension to the tournament and its connection with the golfing community.
“Afro Exchange gave us a unique way to connect with the golfing community throughout the tournament. From the competition on the course to the experiences off it, we were able to create moments that felt fresh while celebrating the spirit of progress and togetherness at the heart of Keep Walking,” Kyokunda said.
For Uganda Breweries Limited Board Chairman- Jimmy Mugerwa, the month-long Johnnie Walker Uganda Open demonstrated the growing stature of the championship as a platform for competitive golf in Uganda and across the continent.
“The quality of golf we have witnessed throughout the championship has been a strong reflection of how much the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open has grown. Bringing together golfers from across Africa gives our local players an opportunity to test themselves against different styles and levels of competition, while also giving the visiting golfers a chance to experience Uganda’s golfing environment. That is important for the continued growth of the game,” Mugerwa said.
As the 2026 championship came to a close, attention turned to next year, with Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa receiving the baton to host the 2027 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open. Mugerwa, Serena’s Captain, welcomed the opportunity to host the championship.
For Uganda Golf Union President Dr. Jackson Were, the close of the 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open was an opportunity to reflect on a championship that continues to command the attention of golfers well beyond Uganda, while maintaining its place as the country’s flagship professional golf event.
“We do not take the support around this tournament for granted. Johnnie Walker has continued to give us the confidence to stage the Open at the level we want. We are grateful for that commitment. We now look forward to the next edition and building on what we have achieved this year to make the championship even better,” Were said.
The 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open was supported by ABSA, MTN MOMO, Aquafina, Pepsi, Case Clinic, Medisell, Rose Foam, Pearl Marina, and NBS Sport.
