Clinical Cwinya-ai commands the field after opening round in Entebbe | Pearl Of Africa Golf series 2026

Pearl Of Africa Golf Series 2026 (Gross) – Top 5:

• Leader: Joseph Cwinya-ai – 68
• 2nd: Martha Babirye – 71
• T3: Elton Thembo – 72
• T3: Abdallah Kakooza – 72
• T3: Dominic Musoke – 72

Joseph Cwinya-ai is a character for big occasions. The reigning Uganda Amateur Open golf champion never disappoints where it matters most, more so, under pressure.

For the opening round during the second edition for the Pearl Of Africa (POA) Golf Series at the lake-side par-71 Entebbe club, Cwinya-ai proved his true colours.

He returned the best score on the day, 3-under-68 to boss the rest of the field that entailed the country’s best male and female gross players.

“Playing regulation golf is key” Cwinya-ai disclosed to Kawowo Sports during the round where he scored 5 birdies, 11 pars and 2 bogies.

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Joseph Cwinyaai score card

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On the opening part of the course, Cwinya-ai was flawless with three birdies on the par 3-hole 2, par-3 hole 6 and par-5 hole 7.

He recorded par scores on holes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 with a grey patch on the troublesome par 3 hole 8 where he scored the first bogie.

<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="900" data-attachment-id="326377" data-permalink="https://kawowo.com/2026/04/01/clinical-cwinya-ai-commands-the-field-after-opening-round-in-entebbe-pearl-of-africa-golf-series-2026/joseph-cwinyaai-6/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/kawowo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Joseph-Cwinyaai-scaled.png?fit=2048%2C2560&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2048,2560" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Joseph Cwinyaai" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

Joseph Cwinya-ai

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On the back-nine, he commenced with two consecutive pars on holes 10 and 11, a bogie on par 3 hole 12, pars on 13 and 14, birdies on 15 and 17 as well as pars on 16 and 18.

“The plan for day two is same like the opening; keep on the fairway and play regulation golf” he spoke of the second round strategy.

Martha Babirye is on the shoulders of Cwinya-ai with 71 (level) as the trio of Elton Thembo, Abdullah Kakooza and Dominic Musoke closely follow with 1-over 72.

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Martha Babirye

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Former Uganda Open Amateur winner Andrew Ssekibejja is two-over (73); same as Joseph Kasozi and teenager Shaka Kariisa.

Bright Mukama, Ibrahim Bagalana as well as brothers Godfrey Kambale and Mackinon Masereka are jointly tied on 3-over-74.

Round two tees off as early as 8:30 AM as the elite gross players make it 36 points on Thursday, 2nd April 2026.

On the same day, the professionals will make their opening round of 18 holes’ action.

The elite gross are vying for a total kitty of Ug.Shs 5,000,000 as the pros have Ug.Shs 27,000,000 to battle for.

Last year, Michael Tumusiime won the Entebbe leg with John Musiimenta taking the one at Uganda Golf Club whilst Joseph Kasozi was triumphant in Lugazi for the amateurs.

During the first edition; the professional events were championed by Marvin Kibirige (UGC), Herman Mutebi (Entebbe) and Rugumayo (Lugazi).

The POA Series started in 2025 and were designed to elevate the professional golf ecosystem in Uganda to international standards.

POA Series have been supported by Exim Bank, Uganda Golf Union (UGU), Vivo Energy, Aquafina, Home Bliss, MTN and Case Medical Services.

Top 25 duirng day one of the 2026 Pearl Of Africa Golf Series