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Under the soft morning light in Namulonge, the fairways of the Mary Louise Simkins Memorial Golf Club are already humming with anticipation.
For Uganda’s golf community, this week marks more than a tournament. It is the final test of the year, a celebration of sport and partnership, and—if all goes her way— the stage on which rising star Meron Kyomugisha hopes to reclaim her crown.
Fresh off her victory at the Kinyara Golf Open in Masindi earlier this month, Kyomugisha returns to Namulonge with quiet confidence and unfinished business. She last won the Equity–NARO Open in 2022, and believes the moment is right for another triumph.
“This is the tournament that wraps up the year.; 2025 has been good to me, and I have put in a lot of work,” she said, glowing with optimism.
“I strengthened my short game by working on chipping and putting, and improved my course management by strategically playing the course. So I’m sure I can bring this home.”
More than 120 golfers are expected to compete in this fifth edition of the tournament, played under the theme Swinging to 17 Years of Equity Bank Growth—a nod to the bank’s long- running contribution to Uganda’s financial and sporting landscape.
“This year’s tournament is not just another edition; it carries with it a deep and meaningful milestone,” said Claver Serumaga, executive director of Equity Bank Uganda.
“Equity bank is celebrating 17 years of serving the people of Uganda. Seventeen years of growth, partnership, innovation and shared prosperity. Seventeen years of walking hand in hand with individuals, families and businesses to transform lives and livelihoods.”
The venue—set within Uganda’s largest agricultural research centre— has become one of the country’s most respected homes of talent. The 9-hole, par-70 course remains one of the few where beginners and seasoned golfers can share the same greens while sharpening their craft.
This year’s format adds an unexpected twist. Gross players will compete alongside the men, beginning with 36 holes on Thursday and closing with another 18 on Friday, totalling 54 holes.
Subsidiaries and senior golfers will vie for trophies and a cash prize of Shs 5 million, while professionals will compete for the top purse of Shs 10 million. One of the tournament’s standout features will be the fully branded 17th hole, designed to highlight Equity bank’s anniversary—with special giveaways awaiting players who make it that far.
Club captain Timothy Lwanga said the week carries special meaning for Namulonge itself.
“This is historical to us because as Namulonge, we will be celebrating 75 years,” he said.
“For the club, it shows how far working with the right partners goes in developing sports in the country. Equity has supported us through this journey, and we have set in motion plans for having a fully fledged clubhouse in the near future.”
Professional golfers from Kenya and Zimbabwe will participate, adding an international edge to a tournament that continues to grow in prestige. As the first tee-off approaches, the air at Namulonge carries a sense of possibility.
For Kyomugisha and the scores of golfers teeing up this week, the Equity–NARO Golf Open is more than the season’s final challenge. It is a reminder of how far the sport has come—and the promise of where it can go next.
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