Over the weekend, the NCBA Golf Series Rwanda concluded its two-day Kigali qualifier, with players recognized across several categories and leading performers earning opportunities to compete at the regional grand finale.
Scheduled for November 27 at Karen Country Club in Nairobi, the finale is part of a competition that has attracted significant private-sector investment over the years.
NCBA Bank Rwanda Managing Director Maurice Toroitich says the NCBA Bank group invests about $1 million annually in golf across the region, viewing the sport as a platform for developing talent, nurturing ambition and bringing people together beyond the golf course.
“We believe that in investing in golf, we give an opportunity to many people to not just enjoy the game of golf, but to actually realize their dream of potentially becoming great golfers in the region,” Toroitich told participants at the event.
His remarks point to a broader ambition behind the Rwanda series of creating opportunities for golfers to develop their abilities while building a stronger sporting community across East Africa.
From the course to a regional stage
Among the standout performers in Kigali was Alice Rwigema, who won the overall women’s gross title after recording 84 on the first day and 82 on the second, finishing with a combined score of 166.
Her victory earned her a trophy, a golf bag and a place at the Nairobi finale, where she will have the opportunity to compete against golfers from across the region.
“I am delighted to have won the overall women’s gross title. This victory means a lot to me, and qualifying for the regional finale in Nairobi is both an honor and an exciting opportunity to represent Rwanda,” she said.
Rwigema expressed optimism in competing with golfers from across the region. Well aware that the competition will be challenging, she promised commitment in preparing well and giving her very best.
“I also hope this achievement will inspire more women and girls in Rwanda to embrace golf and pursue their potential in the sport,” she proudly said.
Beyond her achievements on the course, Rwigema serves as the Rwanda Golf Union Women’s Representative, where she actively promotes women’s and girls’ participation in golf.
Rwigema was among three overall gross winners recognized at the Kigali qualifier. Evans Mose took the men’s title with 152 gross, while Innocent Rutamu won the seniors’ category with 156. All three earned trophies, golf bags and trips to Nairobi.
The 36-hole net competition recognized winners across six categories. Paul Mburu won the men’s handicap 0–9 category with 148, while Davis Nteziryayo took the 10–18 category with 137 and Emmanuel Rukangira won the 19–28 category with 148.
In the women’s categories, Melissa Akanigi won the 0–18 title with 150, while Park Sunran took the 19–36 category with 143. Joseph Ntambara won the seniors’ category with 152.
In the daily net competitions, Peter Nizeyimana recorded 64 to win on the first day, while Emmanuel Wuver took the second-day title with 66.
Special awards went to Benjamin Mukisa, Melissa Akanigi and Kang Kwang Jong for the longest drives in the men’s, ladies’ and seniors’ categories, respectively. Anton Larsen, Sheetal Philip and Janvier Gasasira won the corresponding nearest-the-pin awards.
Investing in the game beyond competition
For NCBA, the Rwanda series is part of a longer-term commitment to golf in the country and the wider region.
Toroitich said the bank had supported the sport in Rwanda for three years and across the region for six.
“The ambition is not limited to producing elite golfers. Our annual investment is intended to help more people participate and pursue their ambitions but the relationships built through the game, the camaraderie, engagement and friendship among participants are especially important,” he said.
He pointed to the bank’s recent support for the Sunshine Tour as an example of the wider opportunities that investment in golf can help create. Young players developing their skills today, he said, could one day reach that professional level.
That wider value helps explain why the bank continues to invest in a sport that requires sustained practice, access to facilities and opportunities to compete.
For players, local tournaments provide a setting to test their progress while regional events offer another measure of how far they can go.
The Kigali qualifier perfectly served the two purposes on Saturday by recognizing achievement on the course and identifying golfers who will carry Rwanda’s flag into the next stage of the series.
But most importantly, turning the strong performances in Kigali into competitive results against a broader regional field will truly define the Nairobi trip as a reward for performance and an opportunity to take another step in the sport.
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