As International Women’s Day approaches, last weekend’s championship at Entebbe Club left a strong mark on women’s golf in Uganda and the region.
The 2026 MTN Entebbe Ladies Open concluded on Saturday, 28 February, with Kenya’s Mercy Nyanchama lifting the title. Yet the story of this year’s championship went far beyond the scorecard.
Held at the historic Entebbe Club, the tournament returned after a year’s absence to reclaim its place as one of East Africa’s leading women’s amateur golf events. Backed by a UGX 10 million elite prize package made possible through MTN Uganda’s sponsorship, the 15th edition attracted one of the strongest fields in its history. Players travelled from Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and across Uganda to compete on both the regional circuit and the World Amateur Golf Ranking stage.
Nyanchama won with a 220 gross, delivering a composed performance despite personal loss. She dedicated her victory to her late mother, who passed away just days before the tournament. Tanzania’s Neema Olomi finished runner up, while Uganda’s Peace Kabasweka, the 2024 defending champion, completed the top three.
A Statement Beyond Golf
As the first ladies golf championship on the national calendar, the MTN Entebbe Ladies Open ushered in Women’s Month in alignment with the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, “Give to Gain.”
The theme was reflected on the fairways at Entebbe. Women gave their time, talent, and support to one another. Lady Captains from clubs across Uganda stood alongside regional players in a show of solidarity. In a symbolic gesture, male participants in the Subsidiary category teed off from the ladies teeing boxes as a mark of respect for the women at the centre of the event.
Lady Captain of Entebbe Club, Maureen Okura, summed up the occasion:
“This tournament was not just a competition, it was a celebration of women showing up for women. We witnessed an overwhelming turnout of women from different countries and clubs across Uganda. That presence alone speaks volumes about how far women’s golf has come, and where we are headed.”
“We are not waiting for the future of women’s golf. We are building it. And we are building it together.”
Investing Where It Matters
The event’s success was underpinned by MTN Uganda’s backing. Justina Icabala, Enterprise Segment Manager at MTN Uganda, outlined the company’s position at the sponsorship announcement:
“We see women’s golf not as a niche, but as a strategic space for growth and empowerment.”
That support extends beyond the prize purse. It is reflected in the visibility the tournament provides to women athletes building careers in a sport that rarely commands headlines. It was also evident in the networking opportunities at the newly refurbished Entebbe Clubhouse, where business and sport intersected on Friday evening.
Looking Ahead
With International Women’s Day set for 8 March, the MTN Entebbe Ladies Open has set the tone for Women’s Month. The championship highlighted what can be achieved when corporate Uganda invests consistently in women’s sport.
The future of women’s golf in Uganda is already taking shape, one tournament at a time.
