Ugandans: We're so lucky

FRIDAY, NOV. 16: It’s a case of advertising paying dividends.

An advert in a golf magazine prompted a Uganda organization to sponsor a trip to Bermuda for the winners of a tournament.

Jasper Kamukama, captain Agnes Konde, Gloria Mbaguta, Rose Azuba and Annett Kiconoco are on the island this week to play in the Women and Golf Trophy at Port Royal. All the ladies play at the Uganda National Golf Course in Kampala.

Kamukama said they were happy to be playing in Bermuda as everything is so beautiful and the people so friendly.

“We saw this tournament in the Women in Golf magazine back home.”

Agnes Konde put together a tournament during the regular Ladies Nights on Thursdays with the winners, Gloria Mbaguta and Rose Azuba, being rewarded with a trip to compete in Bermuda.

Kamukuma, who is also on the Ugandan national team, said Port Royal is “very beautiful and challenging. It is very different from our course back home. The Fairways are good and the greens are also good and fast. It took us some time to cope with them but that’s the kind of challenge we’re trying to look for.

“When I go back home this will help me train our team to play on different courses.”

The Ugandan was the leader after the first two days of the tournament.

She added they were told this was the same course used for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf just a month ago. “We are so proud. Everyone back home is telling us on Facebook ‘How can we be so lucky to play on the same course that these guys played on?’ We are so privileged, we just can’t believe it.”

It hasn’t been all links time for the ladies however. They have managed to take in a few sights and the beaches.

“Bermuda is such a lovely place,” Kamukuma said. “The scenery is excellent. We toured St George and all the historical places. The beaches are just perfect. Since we come from a land-locked country, looking at the beaches are quite magnificent.

She added: “The people here are just so good, we can’t believe it — it’s like we’re home. It’s interesting because I see people and he looks like my dad or he looks like my brother so we are like home. The people here are so amazing — that is one thing we are going to take back home. Bermuda is so wonderful.”