Rugumayo Ends Uganda’s 12-Year Wait as Baraka Headlines Johnnie Walker Afro Exchange Finale

What the report says

Ronald Rugumayo ended a 12-year run without a Ugandan winner of the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Professionals Championship, according to Nile Post. The golfer, known as Mayo, closed out the tournament at Uganda Golf Club on Sunday and became the first Ugandan to win the professionals’ title since Deo Akope in 2014. His result drew strong celebration at the club and gave the event a distinctly local milestone.

The report says Rugumayo dedicated the victory to the late Tooro monarch Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and to the people of Tooro, who are mourning him. Nile Post also quoted Uganda Golf Union President Dr Jackson Were, who described the win as a proud moment and said it reflected wider efforts to develop golf in Uganda, including junior and university-based programs. He also noted that the tournament is linked to the Sunshine Tour and that top finishers will have qualification chances for the Magical Kenya Open early next year.

The championship also served as the backdrop for Johnnie Walker’s Afro Exchange finale, which blended sport with music, food and African cultural themes. The event used a “Tale of Two Cities” concept connecting Kampala and Lagos, and featured cocktails, themed décor and gifts. Singer Joshua Baraka headlined the entertainment after his recent unveiling as Johnnie Walker’s Icon Walker, performing several songs and previewing an unreleased track. The celebrations concluded with DJs and dancing, underscoring the tournament’s broader role as both a sporting and cultural showcase.