Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo completed a memorable week on home soil by winning his maiden Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing title after finishing top of the Pearl of Africa Golf Series at Entebbe Golf Club on Saturday.
The reigning Uganda Open champion entered the final round with a two-shot cushion at 11-under-par and closed with a composed two-under-par 69 to finish the four-round tournament on 13-under-par 200.
Rugumayo made an aggressive start, birdieing the first, fifth, seventh and ninth holes to tighten his grip on the leaderboard. Despite bogeys at the eighth, 10th and 17th, another birdie at the par-four 14th ensured he stayed clear of the chasing pack.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the Ugandan professional, who lifted his maiden Sunshine Development Tour title on home soil.
“It feels really good to win this tournament, especially here at home in front of the Ugandan fans,” said Rugumayo.
“I knew I had to stay patient and focus on my own game because there were very good players behind me. I’m happy with how I handled the final round.”
For his victory, Rugumayo earned USD 4,000 (about KSh500,000) and collected 210 Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points.
Malawi’s Paul Adam Chidale produced the best round of the day, firing a five-under-par 66 to climb into a share of second place on nine-under-par 204.
Chidale’s impressive charge included birdies at the fifth, 13th and 14th, alongside eagles on the 11th and 15th holes.
“This is my best finish on the Tour, so I’m happy with the result and the way I competed this week,” Chidale said.
Nigeria’s Godwin Okoko also finished at nine-under after a closing one-under-par 70. He birdied the 11th, 14th and 18th holes but bogeys on the eighth and 16th denied him sole possession of second place.
“It was a good week overall. I would have liked to finish a little stronger today, but there are plenty of positives to take into the next events,” Okoko said.
Chidale and Okoko each received USD 1,820 and 144 Order of Merit points for their runner-up finish.
England’s Matt Millar and South Africa’s Slade Pickering shared fourth place at eight-under-par 205, while fellow South African Musiwalo Nethunzwi finished sixth on seven-under-par 206.
Kenya’s Greg Snow emerged as the highest-placed Kenyan after finishing tied seventh on two-under-par 211. Snow, who had surged into contention with a second-round 66, signed for a final-round 75.
He shared seventh place with Uganda’s Abraham Ainamani, David Kamulindwa and Willys Kitata, as well as South Africans Ruan de Smidt and Thabiso Ngcobo.
The Pearl of Africa Golf Series was the sixth stop on the 2026 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing calendar and the circuit’s first tournament to be staged in Uganda.
The event attracted 109 professional and elite amateur golfers from across Africa and offered Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
