I did not know I would be the champion. Rugumayo had put up perfect form, yet he still had a couple of holes to play, so I thought he would catch up or maybe even surpass my score – Dismas Indiza.
I would like to reiterate that it is our collective responsibility to make the game of golf more accessible for all aspiring players. The 2023 Uganda Golf Open is not only about celebrating the professionals but also about nurturing the talents of tomorrow – Jimmy Mugerwa, UBL’s Board Chairman.
Event: Uganda Professionals Open
Dates: October 25th – 28th of 2023
Venue: Uganda Golf Club, Kampala
Purse: UGX.100,000,000
Title Sponsor: Johnnie Walker
The Johnnie Walker Uganda Open 2023 came to a riveting end on Saturday at the 72 Par Uganda Golf Club with Kenya’s legendary golfer, Dismas Indiza Anyonyi, taking the honours after scoring a total gross of 11 under par- 277 in 72 holes to win the Professionals Open title for a record 7th time.
Indiza produced a superb final round of five under par 67 to clinch the 2023 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professionals Open at Uganda Golf Club, Kampala. He beat Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo who had led in the three rounds to claim the top prize 5,578 US dollars. What a brilliant finish it was for the 55 years old.
Indiza, the Kakamega Golf Club based professional, started the final round in the morning with an eagle three at the par five-first hole. He picked up four birdies thereafter, with only a bogey coming at the ninth, and despite dropping two more shots at the back nine, birdies at the 13th and 16th brought a round of 67 for all rounds total of 11 under par 277.
“I did not know I would be the champion. Rugumayo had put up perfect form, yet he still had a couple of holes to play, so I thought he would catch up or maybe even surpass my score,” said Indiza.
Rugumayo, now a regular player in South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, who started the final day a shot better than Indiza, bogeyed the last hole of the final round for one over par 73 and an aggregate of eight under par 280. Rugumayo had started the round well, firing two birdies though a bogey at the sixth and a double at the par three-ninth, then picked up another bogey at the 11th hole, eagled the 13th hole but failed to make more birdies at the remaining five holes, to tie for second place with Namibia’s Paulino Kasoma who shot two under par 70 in the closing round for a total of eight under par 280.
Another top Ugandan professional, Philip Kasozi, was impressive as he climbed to finish in fourth place on the final day with a score of seven under par 281, just a shot better than Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu and Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya.
A total of 13 Kenyans had made the second round cut while Uganda managed to squeeze 10 players including two amateurs in the last two rounds.
Winners were presented with accolades and Johnnie Walker gift hampers labeled; the Gift of Big Flavor. But there was something even more spectacular; the gifts of the professionals’ winners had their names engraved on the winners’ bottles.
Uganda Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) Board Chairman, Jimmy Mugerwa, emphasized the company’s commitment to grow the game of golf and the importance of inspiring young people to join the sport.
Moses Matsiko, President of the Uganda Golf Union, hailed golfers for participating in every category of the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open 2023 and the sponsors for the remarkable investment into the Uganda Open 2023.
“I would like to reiterate that it is our collective responsibility to make the game of golf more accessible for all aspiring players. The 2023 Uganda Golf Open is not only about celebrating the professionals but also about nurturing the talents of tomorrow,” Mugerwa said.
Kiryowa Kiwanuka, emphasized the government’s commitment to secure all sports facilities to ensure they are utilized for the intended purpose. He highlighted the revamping of the Masaka golf course and an order for encroachers to vacate the Soroti Golf Club as some of the most recent milestones.
Indiza’s win brought to an end an exciting four blissful weeks of incredible golf, and the title sponsors, Johnnie Walker, went all out to make the affair a memorable one for golfers and golf enthusiasts.
Shortly after crowning Indiza and handing him the Johnnie Walker Professionals Golf Open 2023 trophy at the 18th hole, guests quickly changed into the 19th hole theme- black and gold. The dance floor came alive with Myko Ouma and his band, taking guests, on a musical journey with different jams from the 90s to date. The vibe was different at JW Hospitality Village as NRG Radio took charge with a line-up of DJs that kept the audience on their feet with amazing mixes.
The 2023 edition of Uganda Open Championship drew players from over 15 countries including China, Germany, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Rwanda.
UGU President, Moses Matsiko, announced that the 2024 Uganda Golf Open will be hosted by Entebbe Golf Club.
Cast of Professional Champions Since 2006
| Year | Name | Origin |
| 2006 | Deo Akope | Uganda |
| 2007 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
| 2008 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
| 2009 | Richard Ainley | Kenya |
| 2010 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
| 2011 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
| 2012 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
| 2013 | Vincent Byamukama | Uganda |
| 2014 | Deo Akope | Uganda |
| 2015 | Madalisto Muthiya | Zambia |
| 2016 | Joshua Seale | South Africa |
| 2017 | Stephen Ferriera | Portugal |
| 2018 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
| 2019 | Madalisto Muthiya | Zambia |
| 2020 | Robson Chinhoi | Zimbabwe |
| 2021 | Jastas Madoya | Kenya |
| 2022 | Robson Chinhoi | Zimbabwe |
| 2023 | Dismas Indiza | Kenya |
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