The 2026 Rwanda Open will this year be played as a Sunshine Tour event for the first time, with 25 golfers attached to the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing set to compete this week at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas from 24 to 27 September.
The field includes 11 Kenyans, making Kenya the most represented country among the SunDev players competing in the tournament. They include Sunshine Tour members Njoroge Kibugu, Greg Snow and Dismas Indiza, alongside Tour members Adel Balala, Sammy Mulama, Daniel Nduva, Mutahi Kibugu, Taimur Malik, David Wakhu, Jastas Madoya and Nelson Mudanyi.
The Rwanda Open will also feature nine Ugandan players, including recent Pearl of Africa Golf Series winner Ronald Rugumayo, as well as Kasango Grace, Ronald Otile, Phillip Kasozi, Hussein Bagalana, Abraham Ainamani, David Kamulindwa, Rodell Gaita and Willy Deus Kitata.
Rounding out the Sunshine Development Tour contingent are two Rwandan players, including Celestine Nsanzuwera and Aloys Nsabimana, alongside Malawi’s Paul Chidale, Nigeria’s Godwin Okoko and Tanzania’s Nuru Mollel.
The strong representation at the Rwanda Open highlights the competitive pathways being created through the Sunshine Development Tour, giving emerging and established players from across the region opportunities to compete regularly, earn valuable experience and progress towards the Sunshine Tour.
The participation comes just days after the successful staging of the Pearl of Africa Golf Series in Uganda, the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing, where Uganda’s Rugumayo claimed his maiden Sunshine Development Tour title.
“The Rwanda Open is a good example of what we are seeking to achieve through the Sunshine Development Tour. We want to create a clear and competitive pathway that gives golfers across the region regular opportunities to play at a higher level and ultimately progress to the Sunshine Tour and other major tours,” said David Ndungu, CEO of the Sunshine Development Tour.
“Having 25 players from the Development Tour participating in a Sunshine Tour event, including 11 Kenyans and players from Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Nigeria and Tanzania, is encouraging. It demonstrates the depth of talent in the region and the importance of creating more opportunities for these players to compete, develop and test themselves against a strong international field,” he added.
The 2026 Rwanda Open will be played over four rounds at Kigali Golf Resort & Villas from Thursday, 24 September to Sunday, 27 September, bringing together 113 players competing on the Sunshine Tour and golfers progressing through the regional development pathway.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
