growing the game
The First Youth Golf Academy in Uganda, Africa
AFRIYEA Golf Academy,
a youth golf Academy on the continent of Africa, is pleased to announce the official launch of the first golf academy in the region of East and central Africa and the first golf academy in Uganda, Africa. AFRIYEA Golf Academy is the first of its kind whose objective is to equip youth and adults, aged 6 – 22, in all corners of Uganda, with the primary skillset required to play golf. The mission of the academy is to challenge under-
30
served youth and children with special needs to prosper in life by instilling character development, life skills, and values through education and the game of golf. The academy is the brainchild of Isaiah Mwesige, who is the CEO of the academy. Born and raised in Fort Portal, Mwesige holds a diploma in Agro Forestry from Nyabyeya Forestry College in Masindi and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture at Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal. He started as a master caddy at Toro Golf Club in Fort Portal, Uganda. He became a golfer and became a member of the club. “We started this project in September of 2020 with 30 students in partnership with Toro Golf Club,” said CEO Isaiah Mwesige. “During my time at Toro Golf Club I discovered a number of amateur
golfers that were turning professional and found a gap left in between as replacements were needed. I also found out that many kids wanted to play but it was hard to access the facilities. That pushed me to start the academy with the little resources I had along with help from several well-wishers.” In less than a year, the academy has produced one national golf player and many regional golf players in addition to two female coaches who have qualified to be on the national team for the year 2021-22. One underprivileged child has been able to attain an academic sponsorship through the efforts of the academy while others have received golf tournament sponsorships. This success has attracted more youngsters to embrace the academy. AFRIYEA Golf Academy is built on a strong foundation of some of the great players of Uganda, including Stephen Kasaija who is the head coach of the academy. Stephen is a former national team player and the only coach who took the Uganda golf team to the world cup in Japan in 2018. Golf Professionals Happy Robert, Adolf Muhumuza, David Kamulindwa, Andrew Mugume, Mackline Nsenga, Lillian Koowe are among others also rendering services to the academy. In addition to teaching golf skills, AFRIYEA is using golf as a platform to mobilize the young generation to work as change agents in conserving the environment. The academy has conducted several environmental conservation projects that are aimed at acquainting knowledge and skills of tree planting, plastic recycling, reuse and proper disposal through environmental debates, cleaning campaigns, story writGolf Central • Volume 22, Issue 5
