80 Young Golfers Tee Off in Rwanda’s First Junior Championship

The inaugural tournament brings together 80 young golfers, ages 4 to 16, competing in four categories ranging from three-hole beginners to advanced players covering a full 18 holes.

The series, already well established in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with more than 1,000 participants annually, marks Rwanda’s entry into a regional junior golf network. It is the second tournament introduced in Rwanda by NCBA after last year’s senior championship. Three more senior events are scheduled to follow this year under the “NCBA Golf Series” banner.

For Rwanda Golf Union, the focus is clear.
“Investing in children today is building the future of the sport,” said Amb. Bill Kayonga, president of Rwanda Golf Union. “This tournament is a critical step in that direction.”

NCBA Bank Rwanda CEO Maurice Toroitich said supporting young golfers aligns with the bank’s sustainability agenda.
“Helping children grow in golf nurtures discipline, confidence and the potential for a professional career in the sport,” Toroitich said.

Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, the host venue, also sees the event as part of its broader mission. Acting CEO Gaston Gasore said the facility was designed to open doors for all Rwandans to experience golf.
“Our course is a gateway for Rwanda into the global golf community,” Gasore said. “Children have been training through our academy, so this feels like both a graduation and a celebration of the effort we put in every day.”

Organisers say nurturing children through structured training and competition will sharpen Rwanda’s next generation of golfers while embedding the sport more deeply in the country’s culture.