Double win for golfer Emmanuel Lwanga 

Emmanuel Lwanga emerged as the luckiest golfer out of over 200 who competed in the Stanbic Bank monthly Mug tournament at the Uganda Golf Club in Kitante last weekend.

His name was picked during the raffle draw for an air ticket to Dubai immediately after the prize-giving ceremony to crown the winners. Lwanga received the coveted prize of the Mug from Stanbic Bank, after posting a score of 67, to finish second in his group.

Because of Lwanga’s demeanour, he is not the kind that is basking in his recent glory. And that is not to suggest that he is not thrilled to have capped his fifth Mug win with an air ticket that will take him to Dubai for the first time.

“Clearly, to enjoy a trip like the one to Dubai, I have got to be with my wife,” said Lwanga with a beaming smile. Lwanga, 33, who is also a lawyer added that it is an opportunity of a lifetime, which he surely would love to experience with his wife by his side.

One could be mistaken to think that maybe Lwanga is just going to walk into FlyDubai’s Kampala offices and get another ticket. But far from it, he has to work for it, and using his own money, acquire it. And he is not fazed one bit. He is encouraged by the fact that having been able to be among the winners, beating off a field of competitors, nothing could have been harder.

“Definitely winning in golf is more difficult than chasing an air ticket. The course is full of good and very competitive golfers, who want to win always,” Lwanga said.

Lwanga, who is the son of one of the legends of Uganda Golf Club, Cecilia Lwanga, was introduced to the sport at a very young age. In fact, he has been playing golf for nearly 20 years now. So much of his inspiration came from his mother who was Captain of Uganda Golf Club and also won several accolades on that course back in the early 2000s.

In many ways, golf is part and parcel of Lwanga’s life. He practices at least three times every week even though he is not intending to turn professional. He simply loves swinging and getting the ball into the hole. 

jovi@observer.ug