RWANDA’s number two professional golfer Emmanuel Ruterana has switched his attention to next month’s Uganda Open after finishing a disappointing 17th at the just concluded KCB Kenya Open held at Leisure lodge golf club in Mombasa, Kenya.

This year’s Uganda golf Open tournament is scheduled for September 8-11 at Entebbe Golf Club.

Ruterana, who was eyeing a first KCB Kenya Open title, ended up in 17th  place while his colleague and Rwanda’s number one, Jean Baptist Hakizimana finished in 9th place.

Kenyans dominated the tournament as Brian Njoroge, Richard Ainly and Dismas Ndiza took the top three positions.

Now, the 30-year- old Ruterana, making his ninth consecutive appearance at the Uganda Open is targeting to win the tournament for the first time after finishing second in 2010 behind the winner Hakizimina.

However, Hakizimana will not be part of the tournament he won in 2010 as he will be competing for his very first time in the Asian Golf Tour planned from September to December in different parts of the continent.

"I am not ashamed of my performance in the just ended KCB Kenya Open, just making the cut was in itself an achievement. But I have to put that in the past and focus on training hard for the Uganda Open,” Ruterana told Times Sport on Wednesday.

Rwanda’s former number one added, "I will be one of the more experienced golfers in the tournament as I will be marking my ninth consecutive appearance, so I need to be ready to challenge for the top prize. I have never won it but I am confident in my ability to go all the way.”

Ruterana, who trains at the Kigali Golf club in Nyarutarama is expected to depart for Entebbe on September 5, three days before the tournament tees off.