JW Uganda Open: Rwanda’s Nsanzuwera Leads Pros Into Final Round

The Johnnie Walker Uganda Professionals Open Golf Championship will head into its decisive final round on Saturday with Rwanda’s Celestine Nsanzuwera in pole position after an inspired third-round performance at Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club.

The championship has already witnessed three different leaders in as many rounds.

Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo, a Johnnie Walker influencer, led the opening day with a 4-under 67, before six-time champion Dismas Indiza of Kenya surged ahead on day two with a gross score of 141.

But Friday belonged to Nsanzuwera, whose blistering 6-under 65 lifted him to the summit on 207, two shots clear of Indiza.

His round was highlighted by a stunning stretch of four straight birdies on the closing holes (15–18), as well as back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12. Earlier, he picked up shots on holes two and five, dropping only two strokes all day despite a heavy afternoon downpour.

“Today (Friday), I played well. I want to end strong and win it,” Nsanzuwera said, brimming with confidence ahead of Saturday’s finale.

The Rwandan, who finished runner-up to Dayne Moore at Entebbe Club last year, comes into the weekend in fine form, having recently won the Sunshine Development Tour event at his home course in Kigali. With momentum on his side, he will begin Saturday’s 11:30 am tee-off as favorite for the lion’s share of the Shs150m prize purse.

Joining Nsanzuwera in the pressure group are Zimbabwe’s two-time winner Robson Chinhoi (210), Uganda’s rising star Marvin Max Kibirige (211) from Mary Louise Simkims Golf Club, and the evergreen Indiza (209), who will be looking to add to his record haul.

Indiza, renowned for his experience and composure under pressure, remains a formidable challenger. “Mzee wa kazi” thrives in the final-round chase and will be ready to punish any slip-up from the leader. Chinhoi, too, showed his quality with a sparkling 31 on the back nine Friday, while Kibirige’s seven birdies proved his promise, even if late bogeys dented his card. As the only Ugandan in the lead group, Kibirige will enjoy passionate home support from the gallery.

Rugumayo, meanwhile, sits six shots adrift and will play in the penultimate group alongside Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu and Ugandan amateur Ibrahim Ssemakula.

The flamboyant Ugandan will need an exceptional final round to keep his dream of a first professional Open title alive.

The 2025 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship is sponsored by Absa Bank Uganda, Aquafina, Isuzu MAC East Africa, Uganda Tourism Board, Medisell Uganda, NBS Sport, and MTN MoMo.