Mercy Nyachama clinched the 2026 MTN Entebbe Ladies Open title after a composed final round sealed a 54 hole total of 220 at Entebbe Club.
Nyachama secured the Gross Main Event crown, walking away with a trophy, UGX 2,400,000 and a Uganda Airlines ticket after finishing five shots clear of her closest challengers.
Tanzania’s Neema Olomi finished Gross Runner Up on 225, earning a trophy, UGX 1,400,000 and a Uganda Airlines ticket. Uganda’s Peace Kabasweka claimed Gross 2nd Runner Up honours, also on 225, receiving a trophy, UGX 1,400,000 and a Uganda Airlines ticket.
Judith Komugisha finished fourth overall on 235 to earn UGX 1,000,000, with Martha Babirye fifth on 236, taking UGX 800,000.
In the Nett category of the Main Event, Frista Birabwa claimed the trophy and a Blue Flame microwave after a count back score of 203, while Laura Natukunda finished runner up on 203 and received a coffee machine.
The Ladies Bronze Event gross title went to Peace Hellen with 180, earning her a trophy and a Hisense washing machine. Godlive Nayebare won the Bronze nett prize with 131, while Davinia Awilli secured the Junior Girls nett award with 144 on count back.
In the Subsidiary competition, Charity Tushabomwe won the Ladies category with 65 nett, with Brenda Ngabo runner up on 70 nett. Willemien Hamminga topped the Seniors section with 77 nett on count back. In the Men’s Subsidiary groups, Allan Muhereza won Group A with 65 nett, Nathan Mubiru claimed Group B with 67 nett on count back, Paul Nabugere won Group C with 69 nett, and Joel Apangu secured the Seniors prize with 69 nett.
Side bet skill awards, each accompanied by a trophy and massage gun, went to Sam Kacungira and Meron Kyomugisha for longest drive in the men’s and ladies’ categories respectively, while Innocent Kihika and Phionah Namanya claimed nearest to the pin honours.
Daily Gross prizes in the Main Event were won by Winnie Musuya on day one with 81, Gloria Nanyonga on day two with 79, and Joweria Namanda on day three with 82.
For Nyachama, the victory carried deep personal meaning after she received news of her mother’s passing shortly after arriving in Uganda.
“It feels so nice… I’m so excited to win this competition, but like, I’ve… this competition that I’ve won, I’ve won for my mom, my late mom. When I arrived here, like she died when I was already in Uganda, but I had to continue with the tournament. So, I’m so happy and I thank God that I managed to play the 54 holes and emerge the winner.”
She reflected on her three rounds, which included 75 on day one, 74 on day two and a level par finish in the final round.
“For the three days, the first day I played 75, and then the second day I improved by one shot, I played 74. And then today, I played level par. Hole number 17, I had a double, so it could have been, like, 2-under for today, but thank God I still won with, like, playing level par.”
Nyachama described the Entebbe event as her first international outing of the year and expressed confidence about the months ahead.
“This is the first tournament I’ve played internationally this year, and the year is still early, so I’m hoping to play good in different countries when I travel to play.”
She added that her form has been strong back home, citing victory at the Sigona Ladies Open where she finished five under gross.
On competing alongside Kabasweka and Olomi in the final round, she said: “It was actually good because we usually play together, so they are my friends. But like today, I just said I’m going to play against the course, not against Neema, or Martha, or Peace. So that is why I did it.”
She also spoke about coping with grief during the tournament.
“The day, I was crying the whole night. But when I turned, I just told myself, just focus because this tournament is a world ranking, and now I’m the top, so at least my world ranking point will count.”
Currently ranked around 1200 in the world, Nyachama dedicated the win to her mother.
“I had to like play good for her. I know wherever she is, she’s happy. Yeah. And it’s God who knows why He took her.”
Her emotional triumph brought the curtain down on a highly competitive 2026 edition of the MTN Entebbe Ladies Open, with the Kenyan emerging as a deserving champion after three demanding days on the Entebbe course.
