NCBA Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to grassroots sports development after concluding another season of the NCBA Junior Golf Series, a programme aimed at identifying and nurturing young golfing talent.
The series provides children aged between six and 18 with structured opportunities to develop their skills, compete and gain exposure to the sport.
Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has attracted more than 500 young golfers through the broader U.S. Kids Golf Uganda Local Tour, offering organised competitions, mentorship and opportunities to develop discipline, confidence, resilience and sportsmanship.
Speaking at the season finale, NCBA Bank Uganda Chief Executive Officer Mark Muyobo said the bank's investment in junior golf was intended to establish a sustainable pathway for young players to develop their abilities and pursue opportunities in the sport.
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"When we launched the NCBA Junior Golf Series, our ambition was to establish a structured and sustainable pathway for young golfers in Uganda to develop their talent, compete meaningfully and build character through sport. We are proud of how far the programme has come and the growing number of young people it continues to inspire," Muyobo said.
He added that the bank wanted young people to access opportunities regardless of their geographical location or financial circumstances.
"At NCBA, we believe that opportunity should not be limited by geography or circumstance. Through initiatives such as this, we are supporting young people to discover their potential, access opportunities and develop the confidence to pursue their ambitions," he said.
The programme operates under the U.S. Kids Golf Uganda Local Tour, which has attracted more than 500 competitive junior golfers since its establishment.
Les Brown, coach and director of the U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour Uganda, said participation had continued to grow, with more than 80 junior golfers taking part in the concluded season.
He said this season also expanded the players' exposure by taking competitions to three golf courses: Entebbe Golf Club, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Uganda Golf Club.
"We are in, ideally, our fourth year running now. It's been a beautiful journey. We've seen more than 500 juniors participate through the tournaments. And this season, particularly, we've had a chance to play in three different golf courses," Brown said.
Beyond organising competitions, NCBA has supported young golfers from disadvantaged backgrounds through sponsorships intended to reduce financial barriers to participation.
During the concluded season, the bank sponsored 10 junior golfers, enabling them to develop their skills and participate in organised competitions.
The beneficiaries included Nanyombi Joanita in the Girls 15-18 category. Those sponsored in the Boys 15-18 category were Ssekyewa Asuman, Kato Stanley Bukenya, Kamoga David, Omiki Nelson, Bwambale Gavin, Owori James, Rwothimiyo Mike and Munguditi Elvis. Aahil Bagalana was sponsored in the Boys 8 category.
The sponsorship initiative is intended to make competitive golf more accessible to children who might otherwise struggle to meet the costs of participating in the sport.
One of the season's outstanding performers, Varad Mahendra Godse, winner of the Boys 10 category, said the competitions had helped him improve his game despite facing strong competition from fellow participants.
Muyobo also recognised the contribution of the U.S. Kids Golf team, led by Theo Van Rooyen and Les Brown, as well as host clubs, coaches, parents and guardians in sustaining the programme.
He said developing young golfers required collaboration among financial institutions, sports organisations, training facilities and families to create an environment in which emerging talent could thrive.
"The success of this programme is a collective achievement. We appreciate the US Kids Golf team for its expertise and dedication, our host clubs for providing the facilities, the coaches for investing their time in developing these young players, and the parents and guardians for their unwavering support. Together, we are building an environment in which young golfers can thrive," Muyobo said.
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The junior golf initiative forms part of NCBA's wider community development strategy, which focuses on supporting programmes that create opportunities for young people and contribute to social development.
The bank says continued investment in grassroots sport can help identify emerging talent, promote healthy lifestyles and create pathways for young athletes to compete at regional and international levels.
As the series prepares for another season, Muyobo encouraged participants to remain committed to training and use every competition as an opportunity to improve.
"To our young golfers, keep practising, remain disciplined and never be afraid to dream big. Every competition is an opportunity to learn, every challenge is an opportunity to improve, and every step you take brings you closer to achieving your ambitions. We believe in your potential and look forward to seeing you achieve even greater success," he said.
