The Deputy Speaker tees off at the start of the tournament
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, is concerned about the limited commitment and support to golf in Uganda and has called on government intervention.
“Almost all the golf courses that were upcountry have been eaten up by construction activities making the visibility of golf as a game very limited,” said Oulanyah.
He made the comments while flagging off a one-day golf tournament at the Uganda Golf Club in Kampala on Friday, 20 July 2018.
The Deputy Speaker attributed the low intake of golfers countrywide to the nature of the sport’s financing adding that to promote the sport, regional clubs and courses needed to be re-opened.
“In order to promote golf, we are going to have to be deliberate about it. We need to roll out to make Ugandans engage in as many sporting events as possible,” Oulanyah said.
Hon. Evarlyne Asiimwe (UPDF Representative) said the sport had not been properly sold to the public, noting that if players promoted golf, it would attract Government support.
“We are fundraising as the Uganda Ladies’ Golf Union to encourage boys and girls to learn golf under the junior programme and graduate as mature players,” said Asiimwe.
She commended MPs for playing golf and promoting it in their constituencies, which she said will go a long way in grooming players to participate in international engagements.
“Arua has a course that has been neglected but the area MPs have taken the initiative to improve it. Hon. Odonga Otto is also pushing to have a golf course in Gulu,” Asiimwe added.
Eva Magala, the President Uganda Ladies’ Golf Union reiterated the Deputy Speaker’s concern on the promotion of golf as a sport, saying that the Uganda Golf Union was working to sensitize and recruit Ugandans into the sport.
“We are trying to go through the junior academy to bring underprivileged children on board. We also give subsidized rates to artisan players upcountry,” Magala said.
The Deputy Speaker also donated 48 signature golf balls to the Union ahead of a fundraiser to support a team of golfers to play a tournament in Ghana later this year.
