Apell vows to elevate women’s golf after taking ULGU presidency

_________________

Rita Apell Akot, the new president of the Uganda Ladies Golf Union (ULGU), has ambitious plans to elevate women's golf in the country over the next two years.

She is optimistic that with the support of all stakeholders in the sport, she can effectively transform the game for women in Uganda.

Akot was elected to office during the Uganda Ladies Golf Union’s annual general meeting, held at the Uganda Golf Club on Thursday evening. A golfer since 2017, Akot is clear about her goals for her time in office.

“I am driven by the desire to see real change in the growth of kids’ and women’s golf,” she noted. “I believe that by nurturing these areas, we not only create new opportunities but also strengthen men’s golf, which ultimately builds a more well-rounded sport,” Akot said.

Akot previously served as the vice president of the Uganda Ladies Golf Union under Anne Abeja a couple of years ago. She is clear about her goals for her term in office.

“We shall need the golf clubs in the country to be deliberate and not passive in creating incentives and programs that attract more women to the game. One of the key pathways to achieving this is through school programs that introduce and nurture interest from a young age,” she added.

Akot’s executive committee includes Helen Lunkuse as vice president, Pamella Tumusiime as honorary treasurer, and Gloria Mbaguta as honorary secretary. Outgoing Ladies Union president Doreen Mwesigye serves as the immediate past president.

The committee members are Charity Atuhaire and Peace Kabasweka. Akot further says that her team will deliberate on elevating the appeal of the game all over the country.

“We shall be marketable to attract support. And to do that, we must first be visible so that stakeholders can connect with and buy into our cause. Our focus will be on increasing the visibility and value of women’s golf and the Uganda Ladies Union through targeted talks, awareness campaigns, nurturing sponsor relations, and active club engagements—all aimed at building a strong foundation for long-term support.”

Asked about the state of professional golf, where the ladies have three professionals in Evah Magala, Irene Nakalembe, and Flavia Namakula, she acknowledged that the challenges of women’s pro golf are not unique to Uganda. “However,” she says, “we must build a critical mass.”

Akot is a chief information officer at Stanbic Bank. Her husband, Dr Peter Apell, is an avid golfer and former chairman of Entebbe Club.