Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Col Samson Made awards Mbarara Golf team
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MBARARA
The inaugural Western Region Inter-Clubs Golf Challenge at Mbarara Golf Course came to life with the presence, support, and participation of Col. Samson Mande.
The UPDF officer, who says he is slowly but steadily getting back to normal life back home and picking up from where he left off, was part of the Kabale Golf Club team that participated in the one-day challenge over the weekend.
Although his participation did not yield notable individual results, he expressed happiness at returning to a sport he had missed for a long time while out of the country.
Col Mande awards Toro club
He was named chief guest at the event and presided over the awarding of top performers. While addressing the golf fraternity, and drawing from the lyrics of Lucky Dube’s song Freedom Fighter, Mande spoke about his excitement at returning to a life of supporting Ugandans in need—something he said he had missed while away.
“Fellow golfers, the reason I requested that song is because, while I was in exile, it reminded me that although I was away, my heart remained in Uganda. I had a home, I had people, I had friends, but I could not reach them because I was out of the country. I don’t even know how I will speak because I am struggling with the languages—25 years away from your languages is not easy,” he said.
The soft-spoken army officer, an all-round sportsman who played golf, squash, football, and boxing in his youth, said he has now dedicated his life to supporting young talent.
“I am dedicating the next phase of my life to developing young talent, especially from Uganda. Where I have been, I have seen how much talent is valued. Those who have been to America and Europe have seen what talent can do for communities—look at people like Akon. I have seen how they uplift their villages, even at a young age,” he said.
Col Mande awards Kabale golf club
He added that local golfers possess immense potential but lack access to adequate facilities and opportunities.
“Our golfers here are playing better than some I have seen on the international stage, but they lack access to facilities. Some cannot even afford green fees. That is why I decided to start with the little I have, beginning with the people of Kabale. I have started supporting them, and we are discussing how to facelift the club there. But this will not be limited to Kabale—it will extend to Mbarara as well, because I belong to both,” he said.
Mande also criticised the state of the Mbarara Golf Club clubhouse, noting that it has remained largely unchanged since 1972 when he first visited the facility. He recalled that President Yoweri Museveni once caddied at the course and promised to raise the matter with him.
“The next time I meet him, I will remind him that I played at the same place where he once caddied. The club would like him to return, not as a caddie, but as President. With such a visit, you know what could follow. I will remind him to come and even play—he is not too old to swing a club,” Mande said.
Col Samson Mande dancing freedom fighter song
In the competition proper, with positions determined by the aggregate nett scores of the top ten golfers from each club, Mbarara Sports Club emerged overall winners with a total of 647 nett.
Toro Golf Club and Kabale Golf Club finished second and third with 726 and 743 nett, respectively.
Individual prizes were also awarded to outstanding male and female golfers, with winners receiving trophies and other prizes.
Mbarara sports club captain Gabriel Woods lifts the trophy
The event, sponsored by KCB Bank, attracted competitors from four regional clubs—Mbarara, Kabale, Toro, and Kilembe—as well as individual golfers from Namulonge, Entebbe, and Mbale.
This was the first edition of the tournament, an initiative by Western Region golf club chairpersons and stakeholders aimed at promoting the sport through a rotating inter-club championship. The next edition will be hosted by Kilembe Golf Club on May 23.
Torch Media Africa
