Uganda’s top professional golfer Marvin Kibirige has taken a significant step closer to the global stage after a strong showing at the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Qualifying School, following timely backing from Equity Bank.
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, Equity Bank handed over a dummy cheque worth USD 2,000 to Kibirige at the Uganda Golf Club, supporting his participation in the 2026 Q-School Golf Tournament in India.
The sponsorship was aimed at easing the financial burden of international competition and enabling the country’s leading golfer to pursue qualification onto major professional tours. The support immediately bore fruit.
Competing at the Kensville Golf & Country Club in Ahmedabad, India, Kibirige carded a level-par 142 over 36 holes to finish second in the first PGTI Qualifying School tournament. He finished just one stroke behind Indian national golfer MD Nawab, who posted a 141, and safely advanced to the next stage of qualification.
Representing the Mary Louise Simkins Memorial Golf Course club, Kibirige recorded six birdies, 22 pars, and six bogeys across two rounds.
He opened with a composed one-under-par 71 before closing with a two-over 73, comfortably making the cut set at six-over 150 from a field of 141 players.
His performance secured him a place among the 27 golfers who qualified for the Final Qualifying Stage, scheduled for January 23–26 2026, keeping alive his dream of earning playing rights on the Asian-based professional circuit.
Speaking at the sponsorship handover earlier in the month, Equity Bank Head of Marketing and Communications Clare Tumwesigye said the Bank was proud to support talent with international potential.
“Kibirige’s journey reflects Equity Bank’s mission of transforming lives through empowerment and long-term partnerships,” Tumwesigye said. “We believe in backing individuals whose discipline and ambition can place Uganda on the global map.”
Currently Uganda’s fourth ranked professional golfer, Kibirige described the opportunity to compete at Q-School as both personal fulfillment and national inspiration.
“This is a dream come true,” he said. “Q-School represents hope for many young golfers back home. It shows that with hard work, discipline, and the right support, Ugandan players can compete internationally.”
Kibirige’s rise is a story rooted in persistence. A former caddie who grew up around the Namulonge Golf Course, he has steadily climbed through the ranks to become a national team regular since 2018. His consistency and resilience have made him a symbol of what is possible in Ugandan golf, a sport still carving out space on the continental and global stage.
Equity Bank’s support goes beyond financial assistance, also covering logistical facilitation and playing gear.
The partnership underscores the growing importance of corporate involvement in nurturing elite sport in Uganda, particularly in disciplines where international exposure comes at a high cost.
As Kibirige prepares for the remaining stages of Q-School, he carries with him not just personal ambition, but the hopes of Ugandan golf.
With momentum on his side and corporate belief behind him, the fairways of India have become the latest proving ground for a player determined to break new ground for his country.
