Second round leaderboard: (Top 10)

140 D. Akope (UGA)
143 R. Ainley (KEN)
145 D. Odhiambo (KEN)
146 G. Ayella (UGA)
147 E. Ruterana (RWA)
149 J. Hakizimana (RWA)
149 B. Toolit (UGA)
156 P. Sendaula (UGA)
156 G. Olayo (UGA)
157 J. Kisia (BUR)

DEO Akope moved into a three-shot lead in the paid ranks of the RwandAir Rwanda Open after a second-round 67 yesterday, but Richard Ainley matched him to stay hot on his heels alongside David Odhiambo.

Ainley from Kenya led the way during the day, but bogeys on holes 16 and 18, and a double bogey on the 17th cost him. Akope on the other hand picked up a couple late on to lead the way entering the weekend.

The Ugandan hard-hitter dropped just one stroke during his round and birdied five holes to sign for a five-under round of 67 and finish on four-under at the half-way stage - a lead of three over the field.

2007 winner Emmanuel Ruterana shot a level-par round of 72 to rise into fifth spot on the leaderboard.

"I’m pleased with my day’s work, it was tricky out there with a bit more wind today,” Ruterana told Times Sport after his round. "It’s not easy, and the finish is tough so I was pleased with that today.

"I’m not playing as well as I should be but I hope things will fall into place in the next two rounds.”

Overnight leader and defending champion Jean Baptist Hakizimana dropped to sixth place on the leaderboard after a bad round of six-over-par and needs to take the game to his counterparts if he is to have any chance of storming back into the contest.

Uganda’s Peter Sendaula was the big struggler of the day as he carded two double bogeys on his way to a 12-over round of 84 to erase all his good work on Thursday were he levelled the course.

In the main category (handicap 0-9), Uganda’s amateur golf sensational Vincent ‘Araali’ Byamukama shot seven birdies on his way to two-under par 70.

The score handed him a five-stroke lead over home boy Olivier Munyaneza who shot 75. Byamukama, who is the gross defending champion, birdied holes 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 18.

Ends