Golfers take part in the MTN Quarterly Tee at Entebbe Club as MTN continues to support the sport

• MTN’s second Pro Tee leg brings together 40 professionals as the company deepens its support for competitive golf in Uganda
• Ronald Rugumayo wins the second MTN Pro Tee leg with a record-breaking 16-under-par 268
• MTN’s investment in professional golf builds on years of supporting amateur and corporate golfers through the MTN Monthly and Quarterly Tee at Entebbe Club
• The September Quarterly Tee attracted 181 golfers, demonstrating the breadth of MTN’s continued engagement with the sport

MTN Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of golf in Uganda following the conclusion of the second leg of the MTN Pro Tee and the September edition of the MTN Quarterly Tee at Entebbe Club.

The two events, held in September, brought together golfers at different stages of the game, with the MTN Pro Tee providing a competitive platform for professional golfers while the Quarterly Tee continued MTN’s long-running engagement with amateur and corporate players.

The second MTN Pro Tee was held from 8 to 11 September and attracted 40 professional golfers, six amateurs and two lady professionals competing for a UGX 20 million prize kitty. The event is part of the MTN Pro Tee series launched this year in partnership with the Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) to provide professionals with a structured competitive circuit, regular opportunities to earn and a platform to sharpen their game.

Golfers line up their putts on the 18th hole at Entebbe Club as MTN continues to support the gam

The September leg was won by Ronald Rugumayo, who completed the 72-hole competition at 16-under-par 268. His strongest performance came in the third round, when he carded an eight-under-par 63 to set a new course record at Entebbe Club, before closing with a seven-under-par 64.

Abraham Ainamani, winner of the inaugural MTN Pro Tee leg in June, finished runner-up on nine-under-par 275, while Rodell Gaita placed third on seven-under-par 277. Grace Kasango and Silver Opio completed the top five.

While the performances on the course provided the immediate competitive highlight, the second Pro Tee leg is also significant in the context of MTN Uganda’s broader investment in the sport.

MTN’s involvement in golf at Entebbe Club dates back to 2023, when the company took over support of the club’s amateur and corporate golf calendar through the MTN Monthly Tee. The partnership has since provided regular competitive opportunities for amateur golfers while also supporting improvements to the club, including a halfway house and clubhouse refurbishment.

The introduction of the MTN Pro Tee represents a deliberate extension of that investment into the professional game. For MTN, supporting professional golfers requires creating opportunities for them to compete regularly, earn meaningful prize money and gain the kind of exposure that can help them progress beyond the local circuit.

The professional series has also been designed around a season-long Order of Merit, giving golfers an incentive to compete consistently throughout the year. The first two legs provide points towards the Order of Merit, which will culminate in a Grand Finale in December carrying a UGX 30 million prize kitty.

The September leg itself carried a UGX 20 million prize kitty, an increase from the UGX 15 million offered at the inaugural leg in June. The increase reflects MTN’s intention to progressively strengthen the professional competition and make the series increasingly meaningful for the golfers participating.

Andrew Bugembe, MTN Uganda’s CFO hands over a dummy cheque of UGX 4 million to MTN Pro Tee winne

Andrew Bugembe, Chief Finance Officer, MTN Uganda, said the company’s approach to golf was centred on creating opportunities across different levels of the sport and supporting Ugandan talent over time.

“Our investment in golf is about creating platforms where talent can participate, compete and grow. We started with the amateur and corporate game through our partnership with Entebbe Club, and the Pro Tee is a natural progression of that journey into the professional game. The objective is to contribute to an environment where our professionals can compete consistently, earn competitively and gain the exposure needed to compete at a higher level.”

Bugembe added that MTN’s support for individual Ugandan golfers was also beginning to demonstrate the value of sustained investment in talent.

In 2025, MTN sponsored Ronald Rugumayo to the tune of more than UGX 100 million, supporting his professional development and exposure on the international golf stage. His progress has since included a strong presence in international competition and, more recently, his victory at the Uganda Open before returning to the local circuit to compete in and win the second MTN Pro Tee leg at Entebbe Club.

For MTN, Rugumayo’s recent performances provide a tangible example of what can come from giving talented Ugandan professionals the support and exposure required to compete at higher levels. His participation in major local tournaments, including the Uganda Open and the MTN Pro Tee series, also brings international experience back into the local competitive environment.

“When a Ugandan golfer can gain international exposure, return home and compete successfully against other professionals here, that is valuable for the individual golfer and for the development of the sport as a whole,” Bugembe said. “Our role is to keep creating and supporting platforms that allow more golfers to take that journey.”

The professional programme complements MTN’s continued investment in amateur golf. The September MTN Quarterly Tee, held on 12 September, attracted 181 golfers and featured competition across ladies’, men’s, seniors and guest categories, alongside special prizes and competitions.

Sheila Ajok emerged as the overall winner with a nett score of 65, while Florence Namugara won the Guest category with 64. Richard Mucunguzi took the Seniors 55+ category with 69.

In the ladies’ competition, Jovia Tugume won Group A with 86, while Peace Hellen took Group B with 67 and Suzan Knight was runner-up with 69. In the men’s competition, Saidi Kirarira won Group A with 68, Baguma Musa won Group B with 66, while Bryan Wakale took Group C on countback after returning the same score of 68 as Moses Ssebugwawo.

The continued running of the Quarterly Tee alongside the Pro Tee reflects MTN’s interest in supporting the sport across its development pathway. The amateur competition provides golfers with regular opportunities to participate and compete, while the Pro Tee creates a more structured environment for those pursuing golf professionally.

As the MTN Pro Tee moves towards its Grand Finale in December, the company’s investment in the sport will therefore continue across both levels, building on the relationship with Entebbe Club while working with UPGA to strengthen opportunities for Uganda’s professional golfers.

MTN PRO TEE SECOND LEG RESULTS

MTN SEPTEMBER QUARTERLY TEE RESULTS