As early as 7 am, hundreds of kids of all sorts of backgrounds had assembled on hole number one of Kitante Greens ready for tie off of the highly anticipated Juniors Tournament. To the organizers and most of the young boys and girls this was a learning tournament but to a few, it meant a future. Unlike the most who come from the affluent class, 14-year-old Ainembabazi Milkah wasn't. She was here to work and train for her higher education. She was introduced to the sport in 2014 having won her maiden Championship. He guardians set the Bar too high for her. This senior two student of Gaba Parents will be playing with pressure boom. Her education is partly dependent on how she performs today. She told Nbs that her caretakers Tukutana; a child support organization would only provide fees for her next term if she won the tournament. Imagine the adrenaline rush through the veins of this minor. “If I am playing this am getting school fees if I win. And if you come when you don’t have someone to help you with some needs; you beg, you can get.” Ainembabazi Milker – Golfer.
Luckily for her with a double bogey, she leads her group on the far pole group number one but she has got 8 more poles to play. Her more experienced friend Turnfal Nampa Blessing started to play golf in 2010. She is not willing to give her friend any blessing for winning her today as she too has got her goals to achieve. The 15-year old is fighting tooth and nail to defend this title which she won last year. “I have played golf since 2010. I love golf maybe when I win I will go outside and compete with those people. To be like Flavia because she plays very well and I wish to be a professional golfer and I know I will.” Said, Nampa Blessing – Golfer.
The organizers reported tremendous success inception of this tournament. “The different kids come from Entebbe Golf Club, Lugazi Golf Club, Jinja Golf Club and this is the time to showcase what they have been learning. We have managed to send our girls junior team for competitions with other countries twice; once in Mombasa and then in Zambia. And we think it is a success because we’ve been looking forward to having kids who can compete internationally.” Said, Sheila Kesiime – Ladies Union Committee Member. The Uganda Golf Union is making deliberate efforts to ensure that they attract as many kids to this elite sport as they can and commendable strides have achieved.
