At 96-years-old, I still play every day on the green in my compound.  I have a green with many holes at in my compound where I play with my grandchildren before I proceed to Toro Golf Course to play with another experienced golfer.

I wasborn in 1925 to RazaroRusokeRwetumburaAdyeeri and Maria EkyendaEkuhaire. My father was a tax collector in Bukwali Village in the current Fort Portal City.  My father was also a Chief in Tooro Kingdom under OmukamaKyembabeKamurasi.

By the time I was born, colonial masters were playing the golf. They had already constructed the Toro Golf Club near Bukwali on Kampala Road just after Mpanga market. It was exclusively for whites.  This is when I developed the love for the game. The first time I noticed people playing golf was when I was nine years old. I was fascinated by a group of old men hitting a white ball. I made it a habit of taking my father’s herd of goats to graze near the golf course where I would hide from the Europeans as I watched them play.

At 96-years-old, I still play every day on the green in my compound.  I have a green with many holes at in my compound where I play with my grandchildren before I proceed to Toro Golf Course to play with other experienced golfer.

Eventually, I started finding and keeping the golf balls. I would then hide in the bush and start playing with a stick since I had no club. Little did I know that this curiosity would be a part of most of my life. My youthful play on the golf course and desire to win earned me the nickname Mzee Kijana. 

I started school at St. Peter and Paul Primary School Virika from where completed my primary education. Thereafter, I joined St. Leo’s College Kyegobe in Fort Portal for O-Level and St. Mary’s College Kisubi for A-Level.

After my studies, I got a job of Assistant Veterinary Officer, a position that gave me the opportunity to travel to different places but more importantly play golf. 

I was inspired to play golf because all the people who were playing the game at that time were respectable and classy. Toro Golf Club was a reserve for “Members Only”who were men and women of status. I worked hard to become a member.

In 1962, after Uganda got Independence, the club started accepting Ugandans, but only civil servants and successful businessmen who could afford to buy clubs. By then golf equipment were very expensive. The following year, I started playing at the club by befriending some members. I bought 11 clubs from a white man who was a tutor at Kichwamba Technical School in the current Kabarole District at Shs. 3,000.The mzungu also gave me a textbook which helped me to learn the rules of the game faster and I became an expert quickly.

In 1969, I joined Toro Golf Club officially as a member after paying Shs. 4,000. To be recruited as a member of Toro Golf Club, one had to first be recommended by a club member. The potential members had to go through a rigorous vetting process -most did not meet the club standards and were denied membership. I was one of the lucky few. I have remained a member of the club upto date. Over the years,

I served as a trustee member of the club. I am a life member.

I entered in thefirst tournament, Kilembe Open, in 1973. I was the best on the second day of the Open. My win was more significant because I was playing against more experienced whites.  

My second tournament came in 1974 and it was Toro Western Open Championship. Here, Icompeted with the more experienced Sadi Onito from Uganda Golf Club and, luckily,I became the overall winner. The following year, I successfully defended my trophy and with that win I entered the annals of Uganda Golf.

This tournament was memorable for me because I got the opportunity to beat my challenger, Sadi Onito, again and a number of other golfers from other clubs in Uganda. I also hit my first hole-in-one. My best round came in 1976 when I played three-under par on the longest course in East Africa-Kilembe. 

I have played on all courses in Uganda, some courses in Kenya and Sun City in South Africa.  Sun City golf is the best but also the most difficult course I have ever played on. The course has a lake in the middle, a hill and a zoo. When you play the ball and it goes into water or in the zoo, you cannot get it back –so you end up lose points.

From 1975, I played many tournaments both in Uganda and abroad. I played for the National Golf Team that represented Uganda in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda for three years. I remember winning trophies with colleagues such as George Kituku and Steven Kasaija. 

My trophy cabinetis filled with trophies from various tournaments played over five decades. They include Tooro Western Open Championship 1974, Western Open Championship 1975, ICAO Tournament 1994, Seniors Golf Day 2008, Western Open 2009, Seniors Golf Day 2014 and Tusker Malt Uganda Open 2015. My most recent trophy is from the 2019 Seniors New Year Golf. I have played with famous golfers such as Dan Nkatta, SadiOnito, Alex Opendi and Colonel Wilson Toko.

Throughout my life, I have helped to train other golf enthusiasts including my grandsons. For my 95th birthday, I organized the Basaliza Golf Tournament at Toro Golf Club where many golfers participated and won different prizes. 

At 96-years-old, I still play every day on the green in my compound.  I have a green with many holes at in my compound where I play with my grandchildren before I proceed to Toro Golf Course to play with another experienced golfer.

My legacy was formed in the 1970s when I won almost every tournament I entered. I have won more than 60 trophies won in my 50-year-long golfing career. 

Playing golf has helped me make many friends and get recognition from the public. I got nicknamed, “Mzee Kijana.” That nickname did not come on a silver platter. It was through my hard work by winning trophies, that golfers would fear whenever they would see me on the course. I have maintained my winning record from 1974 to date.

I live in Kiburara, Kabarole District. He is a retired veterinary officer and a life member of the Toro Golf Club.  He has a “green” with many holes at his home where he plays with his grandchildren before proceeding to Toro Golf Course to play with other experienced players.