The Katogo Golf Series presented by I and M Bank got a revamped feeling when a bulk of more than 100 players flew to play the ‘Virunga Challenge’ against Kigali Golf Club in Rwanda early this month.
The championship started at Entebbe Club had successfully made a second cross-border leg in a space of two seasons.
The Series now looks to a spectacular finish with a last leg of the 2025 edition at the par-71 course in Entebbe Saturday. ‘What an incredible season we’ve had,’ a thrilled Katogo Golf captain Elly Kibuka Mukasa said.
‘We thank the golfers who have religiously turned up for all this season’s events, including the recent Kigali edition. But most importantly, we thank our sponsors for their support and commitment to the series. We look forward to a memorable time with all golfers this Saturday.’
‘I think we can all agree that by now the Katogo Golf Series needs little or no introduction!’ remarked I and M Bank’s marketing and corporate communications chief Annette Nakiyaga.
‘The series has become one of the biggest, it’s the only tournament that has been able to host some of its events outside the country. We are honored to be part of that growth journey, and we believe the sky is the limit,’ she added.
On a busy day of golf across the country, a sizable field of more than 140 competitors is expected to feature in the fourth leg whose playing format will be ‘In Regulation’ at Entebbe today.
Unlike previous formats of the season like ‘Rejected’, ‘For Better or Worse’ and ‘Daytona’ which required competitors to forms pairings, ‘In Regulation’ tests approach play and short game finesse.
In Regulation is an individual format that where players must hit the greens within a specific number of strokes for each hole. At a par-3, a player’s ball must be on the green for one stroke, two shots for a par-4, and three on for a par-5, which makes an inevitable demand for precision.
And the format punishes a player should they miss out on the aforementioned efficiency. Once a green is missed in regulation, a stroke penalty will added to the player’s score.
However, should the player recover and finish the hole with a par via chipping into the cup or putting finely on that hole, then the penalty stroke will be waived.
Besides an array of prizes including air tickets by RwandAir to be given out at a blue-themed 19th hole prize-giving ceremony set to be hosted by comedian Patrick Idringi and a performance from Elijah Kitaka, Victoria Motors has staked a Mitsubishi Xpander car for a hole-in-one prize on a selected par-3 Hole either No.2, No.6, No.8, No.10, No.12 or No.16.
KATOGO GOLF SERIES
TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK
Name: Katogo Golf Series
Edition: 2nd
Tournament Purse: Shs650m
Title Sponsor: I and M Bank
Partner Sponsors: RwandAir, Johnnie Walker, Victoria Motors, GA Insurance, Serena Hotel, Lake Victoria Golf Resort and Spa, Time Cop Security, and Goldman’s Luxury
Venue: Entebbe Club
Katogo Captain: Elly Mukasa
Katogo Vice-Captain: Andrew Kibaya
Annual Legs: 5 (Quarterly and a regional leg in Kigali)
Dates: Mar 15, May 31, Aug 9, Nov 29
Modes of play: ‘Rejected’, ‘For Better or Worse’, ‘Daytona’, ‘In Regulation’
I and M BANK KATOGO GOLF SERIES
‘REJECTED’ FORMAT RESULTS
BEST MALE PAIRINGS
Winning Pair: Team P and B (Bob Matsiko and Peter Atwine) 57 nett
Runner-Up Pair: Protons (Michael Andama and Jim Kamanyi) 59 nett (c/b)
BEST FEMALE PAIRINGS
Winning Pair: Fairway Zokka (Edith Wamalwa and Suzan Achieng) 59 nett
Runner-Up Pair: Games Changers (Diana Nabukenya and Rita Apell) 60 nett
‘FOR BETTER OR WORSE’ FORMAT
MEN’S RESULTS
Winning Pair: Kyaayi Mukalu (Mukasa Mulema and Abbas Luyombo) 40 points
Runner-Up Pair: Eagles and Birdies (John Paul Namoma and Jonathan Lukyamuzi) 37 pts (c/b)
LADIES’ RESULTS
Winning Pair: Hot Birdies and Bling (Edith Wamalwa and Anne Abeja) 37 pts
Runner-Up Pair: Slice N Dice (Esther Aganyira and Florence Namara) 36 pts
DAYTONA FORMAT – WINNERS
Winning Pair: Harami (Moses Ochole and Mulungi Sseruwo) 609
Runner-Up Pair: Team Street (Charles Kakaire and Albert Otete) 630
Top Ladies’ Pair / 5th Runner-Up Pair: Luo Queens (Anne Abeja and Ruth Akello) 666