When the final leg of the 2025 Pearl of Africa (POA) Golf series tees off at the par-71 Lugazi Hills Golf & Country Club in July, it will be a landmark moment for the game and a competition that only commenced this year but has left an indelible mark on the calendar.
With the POA events at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) and Entebbe Club huge successes, organisers are hoping that the final leg in the sugar plantations of Mehta garners great interest, and that golfers put on enthralling rounds.
At UGC, amateur John Musiimenta and professional Marvin Kibirige were triumphant while in Entebbe, Michael Tumusiime proved age is just a number by winning the amateur title at 50. The professional crown went to local favourite Herman ‘Deco’ Mutebi. The wins of both Kibirige and Mutebi were as invigorating as they were popular.
The timing of the POA event couldn’t have been more immaculate. With the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open, the country’s biggest and most prestigious competition due to be held at the same course in August and September, amateur and professional golfers will want to use the opportunity to test and prepare themselves on a course that requires impeccable fitness and flawless game management.
It will be the first time ever that the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open is played at the course which was built in 1996. Formerly known as Mehta, Lugazi Hills has undergone various transformations to become a fully fledged 18-hole course. Presently, there is on-going work to make the range ready for the Open. The building of the deck is also in advanced stages together with a state-of-the-art club house that should be launched in the next three years.
Lugazi Hills has become an established conveyor belt of national team golfers. Open champions Godfrey Nsubuga and Joseph Reagan Akena are Lugazi Hills Golf products. Other star golfers who have been nurtured from the sugar plantations to become national team golfers include Ibrahim Ssemakula, Winnie Musuya and juniors Anthony Otukei and Peter Mayende.
