All set for Africa Golf Championships in Kigali, Rwanda

All is set for the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship, the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour—East Africa Swing, which tees off tomorrow at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas.

The three-day, 54-hole stroke-play tournament has attracted 121 professional and elite amateur golfers from 16 countries in Africa, Europe, and North America.

It will feature a 25,000 USD prize purse, valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.

Tournament Director David Kihara said preparations have gone smoothly and the course is in top condition to host the international field.

“Regarding our preparation, I believe we are ready for it. The course is in great shape, really nicely manicured, and the greens are speedy. We expect they’ll be running at a speed of about 11.

The rough is very rough, so the players must be careful about where they hit their golf balls.

Kihara commented on the field, “We have a powerful, almost international field, with players from the UK, Canada, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and, of course, from across East Africa.

“The weather should be perfect for golf; dry, a little bit windy, but no rain expected, so we are ready to go.”

Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu, winner of the Ruiru leg of the Tour, is among the leading contenders for the Kigali event and says his confidence is high heading into the championship.

It showed me that my game can hold up under pressure. Every tournament is different, but I feel confident and motivated coming into Kigali.

“I just want to keep building on that momentum and give myself the best chance to contend again.” Reflecting on the quality of competition across the Swing, Kibugu added, “The level of competition has been really high, which pushes me to raise my own game.

“One big takeaway is patience; you can’t force things here. You must trust your process and stay disciplined.

“I’ve also learned to adapt quickly to different course conditions, and I’ll carry that mindset into Kigali.” Kibugu also highlighted the areas of his game he has been focusing on

“I’ve been working a lot on my short game and putting, because that’s where tournaments are often won or lost. I’ve also focused on course management, making smarter decisions under pressure.

“If I can combine those with the strengths in my long game, I’ll be in a good position.”

Kakamega Sports Club pro and Ruiru champion, Dismas Indiza, who has been one of the standout performers on the Swing, said he feels ready for the challenge after a good practice round.

“My preparation has been steady. I’ve been focusing on keeping my game sharp and ensuring my putting is consistent.

“The practice round here in Kigali felt good; the course is in excellent condition, the tight fairways, and the greens are speedy. I know it will demand accuracy and patience.

“My goal is to stay solid from the first tee and put myself in a strong position going into the second and final days.

“It won’t be easy because the field is powerful, but I feel confident in my game and look forward to the challenge.”

The SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship is sponsored by SportsBiz Africa, Johnnie Walker (EABL), Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, and Pure Travel.

The event also serves as a precursor to the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025, a two-day annual conference in Kigali to advance Africa’s sports industry and build a stronger sports business ecosystem for sustainable development.