Tunaweza is a Swahili word that can loosely be translated as “We can” and the members took it a little bit too far by proving that they can give selflessly.
The golfers turned up in droves 38 teams and paid Shs20.3m as green fees to compete in the Tunaweza Charity Golf Tournament at the par-72 Kitante course on Friday.
And after Tunaweza Children’s Centre board chairman Dr Sam Zaramba, a former captain at UGC, made a plea during the awards ceremony that the intended target was Shs40m, the golfers ungrudging dug deeper into their pockets and forked out an extra Shs12m and $3500(an estimated Shs8.8m) for a grand total of Shs40.8m.
Led by witty auctioneer Amos Nzeyi, who paid in an excess os Shs2m, golfers from different walks of life particularly MSL Logistics’ Edward kabuchu (at least Shs2.5m), Dr Kotecha family and Ruparelia Group (each $1000)’s generosity left the Tunaweza Board of Directors humbled.
“It is hard for sponsors to part with their cash easily like this these days but we are grateful with the love we have been shown,” said board member Podi Kasami.
The day also offered an insight into the future of Ugandan golf after Team Kolin Construction comprising of national team hopefuls carded 109 stableford points to defeat MSL Logistics (101) by eight points.
Morris Ashaba (h/c 11) with 38 points, 18-handicapper Micheal Tumusiime (36), Becca Mwanja, playing off four with (35) and non-playing captain Abbey Bagalana were the architects behind the win attained by Bruhan Nassur-sponsored team.
Story by Innocent Ndawula. Sunday Monitor 5/25/14
