When the Africa Amateur Championships was introduced two years ago, it offered a new platform for the continent’s best players.
The championship organized by RandA attracted the best players at Leopard Creek in Mpumalanga, South Africa for both 2024 and 2025 editions.
At both, Uganda’s best player was Joseph Cwinya-ai, tying in 36th place last year, an improvement by two places from the year before.
At this year’s edition, switched to the Royal Johannesburg Golf Course, Cwinya-ai, also carrying the captain’s duties, will hope to improve when Uganda features again beginning with a practice round on Monday.
‘I want to have a better finish,’ said Cwinya-ai before the team’s departure at the weekend.
The reigning Uganda Amateur Open champion will play the 72-hole stroke-play championship in the company of Joseph Reagan Akena, Joseph Kasozi, Titus Okwong, Abdallah Kakooza, Elton Thembo and Lawrence Walakira.
‘My target is to work hard to finish in the top 15. But I also want to be the top performer in the East Africans who will be competing,’ added Cwinya-ai.
After 36 holes, the tournament will have a cut and in the inaugural edition, only Cwinya-ai survived.
Last year, he had the company of Okwong and Michael Alunga who finished 38th and 39th respectively out of 41 competitors who played all four rounds.
‘As the Union, we have a feeling that our SA-bound golfers will give pride to our flag,’ stated Uganda Golf Union (UGU) president Jackson.
Unlike the men, only two ladies Peace Kabasweka and Meron Kyomugisha will feature in the 54-hole stroke-play competition, and they were selected based on their World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), as of October 29, 2025.
There are 19 other ladies from other countries and they won’t have a cut. Victory for either Kabasweka or Kyomugisha will earn an entry into the Johannesburg Ladies Open.
The male champion will be entered to compete at the South African Open Championship, the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions and the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
South African Bryan Newman won last year’s edition by two shots with an aggregate score of eight-under 280 gross.
In 2024, Altin van der Merwe held off fellow South Africans Christiaan Maas and Ivan Verster via a sudden-death play-off after they had all tied on 13-under 275 gross.
AFRICA AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Edition: 3
Organizers: The RandA
Dates: February 3-7
Venue: Royal Johannesburg Golf Course
Location: Linksfield North, Johannesburg, South Africa
Par: 72
Format: Stroke play
Current Champion: Bryan Newman (RSA) | 280 (-8, won by 2 strokes)
TEAM UGANDA CONTINGENT
Male Players: Joseph Cwinya-ai, Joseph Reagan Akena, Joseph Kasozi, Titus Okwong, Abdallah Kakooza, Elton Thembo, Lawrence Walakira