Empowering women in golf, Justina Icabala Ziraba, Lady Golf Team Lead at MTN, shares her thoughts on the Ladies Open, alongside Entebbe Club Captain, Walusimbi Serwano
- MTN Uganda has officially announced its sponsorship of the 2026 Entebbe Ladies Open, set for 26th to 28th February at Entebbe Club, reaffirming its commitment to women’s golf and sports development in Uganda.
- The World Amateur Golf Ranking event featuring Main, Bronze, and Subsidiary categories, a UGX 10 million elite reward package, and participation from top regional players.
- Lady Captain Maureen Okura highlighted the tournament’s significance in restoring Entebbe Club’s regional standing and building the future of women’s golf, while promising a highly competitive field.
- Entry fees range from UGX 50,000 to UGX 150,000, with the championship aligning with Women’s Month and setting the tone for the national golf season.
Wednesday 25th February 2026 Entebbe, Uganda: MTN Uganda has today officially announced its sponsorship of the 2026 Entebbe Ladies Open, reaffirming its long standing commitment to the growth of women’s golf and sport in Uganda. The announcement was made at the Entebbe Clubhouse ahead of the tournament, which will take place from 26th to 28th February 2026 at the historic Entebbe Club.
Maureen Okura, the Lady Captain of the Entebbe Golf Club speaking about the impact of MTN’s UGX 10 million elite reward package on women’s golf.
The Entebbe Ladies Open, a premier fixture on the calendar of the Uganda Golf Union, returns this year as one of the most significant women’s amateur tournaments in the region. After not being hosted in 2025, the revival of this prestigious World Amateur Golf Ranking event marks a defining moment for Entebbe Club and for the women’s game in Uganda.
As the first Ladies Open on the national golf calendar, the tournament sets the tone for the competitive season while meaningfully ushering in the month of March, globally recognised as Women’s Month. This year’s edition aligns with the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” which calls for generosity, collaboration, and intentional investment in women as a pathway to accelerating gender equality. Through sponsorship, mentorship, and increased competitive opportunities, the tournament reflects the belief that when women are supported with resources and visibility, the entire sporting ecosystem benefits, driving broader social and economic progress.
Leadership and regional talent come together at the launch of the 2026 Entebbe Ladies Open, with officials from Entebbe Club and MTN Uganda joined by elite players from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The championship will be played on the scenic and challenging 18-hole course at Entebbe Club. The main Ladies event will run from 26th to 28th February. The Bronze category will compete from 27th to 28th February, while the Subsidiary event will be played on 28th February and will include men, seniors, and ladies. In a symbolic gesture of solidarity and respect for the women’s championship, male participants in the subsidiary category will tee off from the ladies’ teeing boxes.
The week’s activities began with a practice round and press engagement on Wednesday, followed by the official start of the main event on Thursday. On Friday, the Bronze category will join the competition, and the evening will feature a specially curated networking experience at the newly refurbished Entebbe Clubhouse. The tournament will culminate on Saturday with the final round and a prize giving ceremony later in the evening at the traditional 19th Hole celebration.
Participation remains open to eligible golfers across categories. Entry fees have been structured to encourage broad participation, with the Ladies Main Event set at UGX 150,000, the Bronze Event at UGX 100,000, and the Subsidiary Event at UGX 50,000. Interested players are required to register through Entebbe Club in line with Uganda Golf Union regulations.
Speaking at the announcement, Justina Icabala, Enterprise Segment Manager at MTN Uganda and Team lead of the MTN Ladies’ golfers, emphasized the company’s continued investment in sport as part of its broader commitment to national development.
“MTN Uganda believes in the power of sport to transform lives, build networks, and create opportunity. Golf in particular provides a unique platform where business, mentorship, and personal growth intersect. Our continued support of the Entebbe Ladies Open reflects our confidence in the women shaping this sport and in the long term value it creates for communities and for Uganda. As the biggest supporter of sports in the country, we see women’s golf not as a niche, but as a strategic space for growth and empowerment.”
This year’s tournament boasts one of the strongest elite amateur fields in recent memory. A UGX 10 million elite reward package, made possible by MTN Uganda’s sponsorship, represents a bold and progressive step for the amateur women’s game, where reward levels of this scale have traditionally been reserved for professional circuits. The enhanced prize structure is expected to raise the level of competition and inspire top tier performance.
Lady Captain of Entebbe Club, Maureen Okura, described the return of the Ladies Open as a milestone for the club and its members.
“The Entebbe Ladies Open is a significant milestone for Entebbe Club. Reviving this prestigious World Amateur Golf Ranking event reaffirms our position on the regional and global amateur golf stage. It enhances our international visibility and contributes to the long term sustainability of the club. For our members, this is a clear affirmation that Entebbe Club is not just participating in the game; we are leading it.”
She added that players and spectators can expect a highly competitive and unpredictable championship.
“This year’s MTN Entebbe Ladies Open will showcase one of the strongest elite fields we have seen in recent years. We are welcoming players who have consistently won on the local scene and represented Uganda internationally. With a field this strong, it is difficult to predict a winner, and that is what makes it exciting. The suspense and competitiveness will define this edition. We are not waiting for the future of women’s golf; we are building it here at Entebbe.”
Among the notable players expected to tee off are defending 2024 Entebbe Ladies Open champion Kabasweka Peace from Toro Club, Mercy Nyachama of Kenya who is the reigning Uganda Ladies Open 2025 champion, three time Uganda Ladies Open champion Martha Babirye from Uganda Club, and Neema Olomi of Tanzania who won the 2018 Entebbe Ladies Open. The field also features regional talents including Loveness Frank from Tanzania, Wendy Angudeyo from Uganda, Victoria Elias from Tanzania, Rukia Nalwoga from Uganda, and Stella Gama from Malawi. Irene Nakalembe, a professional from Entebbe Club who won the Entebbe Ladies title seven consecutive times, will compete in the subsidiary event in support of the Ladies championship.
The return of the Entebbe Ladies Open reinforces Uganda’s growing stature within the regional golf community and underscores MTN Uganda’s role as a consistent enabler of sport. As the tournament tees off, the spotlight will not only be on competition, but on the continued advancement of women in golf across Uganda and the wider region.
