East African Breweries under their Tusker brand have been lauded for their contribution to this year’s Rwanda Open Golf tournament.

The company sunk over Frw5.5 million into Kigali Golf Club’s premier tournament, a contribution which went to make the event the most colourful on this year’s club calendar.

On behalf of East Africa Breweries, the company’s country manager David Kamanda thanked Kigali Golf Club for letting Tusker be part of the tournament.

"I take this opportunity to thank you (KGC) for having Tusker on board as one of your partners.

"It’s the first tournament that we have handled a sports event in Rwanda but definitely it won’t be the last whatsoever,” Kamanda said.

He went on to urge the club manager to approach his company with a view to negotiate a longer partnership.

Besides being the premier tournament on the local golf calendar, this year’s Rwanda Open event was a turning point for Rwanda’s golf.

The event would down in Rwanda’s golf history books as the first tournament to attract professional golfers.

The competition attracted nine professional golfers including seven from Uganda and one a piece from Kenya and the hosts Rwanda.

And it was the best befitting moment for Rwanda’s golf as the country’s sole professional golfer Emmanuel Ruterana stole the show by emerging the best in the four-day competition that started on Thursday and climaxed on Sunday.

His efforts were rewarded with a $1000 (about Frw540000) cheque in prize money on top of a laptop valued at Frw 1.2million courtesy of Computer Point.

Afterwards Ruterana said, "I want to thank the sponsors for making this event a success because without them, we (pros) wouldn’t have been a part of it.

"And I’m also happy for winning at my first event as a professional at the home course and hopefully I can retain the title next year.”

Uganda’s Deo Akope who is also the captain of professional golfers in the region also saluted the 23-year-old former caddie for his performance and the sponsor for the occasions a success, something he said is good for Rwanda’s golf.

"Tusker, Serena Hotel and Indian Khazana really made us feel at home and there is no doubt that we are looking forward to next year’s event,” he said after picking his first runner up $760 cheque.

At the prize giving ceremony, the State Minister in charge Industry and Investment promotion Vincent Karega hailed the Kigali Golf Club for organizing a colourful event.

"It’s my first time here but I’m also very glad to be here and I’m proud to let you know that you are going to have one of the best facilities in the country courtesy of Dubai World,” the Minister said.

The tournament attracted a record 89 participants from Burundi (eight), Uganda (ten), Kenya (one) and the hosts Rwanda (70).

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