Team Vincent Katutsi and Sam Kacungira have emerged winners of the 2026 Stanbic Match Play Challenge after a dramatic final that went into sudden death, capping months of intense competition among Uganda’s top golfers.
The duo defeated seasoned campaigners Michael Monne and Ronald Pulle in a tightly contested final at the Entebbe Club, with the match extending beyond the regulation 18 holes before Katutsi and Kacungira secured victory on the 21st hole.
Speaking after the win, Kacungira described the triumph as one of the most memorable moments of his golfing career, praising his partner for delivering crucial shots under pressure.
“It’s been a wonderful tournament. I have never played such golf. I can’t believe we finished the way we finished. My partner Vincent did it all, especially finishing with a fantastic shot,” Kacungira said.
He said the final was one of the toughest matches he had played, with both teams repeatedly exchanging the lead throughout the contest.
“We went two up, then they squared. We went two again, then they squared. They are very good golfers, so the pressure was enormous,” he added.
Kacungira credited their victory to teamwork, experience and composure during decisive moments, particularly their putting performance on key holes.
“We complement each other. When I am down, he is up; when he is down, I am up. Those long putts were very important and decisive for this match,” he said.
His partner Katutsi said their journey to the championship had been built over several years of playing together, describing their partnership as a major factor behind their success.
“Sam is not my partner by accident. I know his capabilities and his capacity to complement me. On the 16th, 18th and the first hole of sudden death, he delivered,” Katutsi said.
The finalists had earlier expressed confidence ahead of the showdown, with Katutsi and Kacungira acknowledging the challenge posed by their experienced opponents.
“This is a match play game where you study the weaknesses of your opponents on every hole. It is not like a normal round of golf. The plan is to watch what they are doing and try to do it better,” Katutsi said before the final.
The tournament, sponsored by Stanbic Bank Uganda, attracted more than 200 golfers on each day of play and has grown into one of Uganda’s most competitive golf events.
Stanbic Bank Trade Marketing, Brand and Sponsorship Manager Isaac Ajiji said the bank’s continued partnership with the tournament reflects its commitment to growing golf and creating opportunities for players.
“We pride ourselves in being the lead sponsor for the Stanbic Match Play Challenge. We have supported it for the last three years and we will continue supporting the game of sport,” Ajiji said.
He added that the tournament has helped raise the profile of golf in Uganda while giving winners exposure to international competitions, including events such as the DP World Tour in Dubai.
“The competition has grown year after year, attracting bigger numbers of golfers. It is one of the most competitive tournaments in the country,” Ajiji said.
Beyond sport, Ajiji noted that golf provides Stanbic with an opportunity to engage its customers, particularly private and executive banking clients.
“As Uganda is our home, we grow with our partners. This is about growing the brand but most importantly growing golf as a game,” he said.
The 2026 edition brought together golfers from across the country in a seven-month journey that began in February, with participants battling through several rounds before reaching the final at Entebbe Club.
For Katutsi and Kacungira, the victory marked their best-ever performance in the tournament after previously exiting in earlier rounds.
“We have played this competition for years, but this is the best we have ever come. The pressure was too much, but we did our best,” Kacungira said.