The Vice President of Uganda Ladies Golf Union (2025–2026) and also the Lady Captain of Jinja Golf Club, Helen Waiswa Tanyinga Lunkuse, has appealed to the people in Busoga to embrace and popularise golf as a sport because it is a powerful tool for social transformation.
Lunkuse, who was interacting with journalists at Richmond Hotel Butabala Kamuli on Thursday, 27 March, 2025, explained that the sport of golf helps build social capital, instills discipline, encourages mental resilience and opens doors to global opportunities.
She challenged leaders in Busoga region to identify, mentor and empower young talent by creating inclusive spaces at golf clubs. She said the sport should be used as a bridge to connect ambition with opportunity and as a firm commitment to empower the next generation.
“For the love of the game and our youth’s future, I pledge to serve with commitment, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration,” Lunkuse promised, adding, “Let us work together to ensure that more juniors, especially from our local communities, are given the chance to thrive through golf.”
“Together”, Lunkuse said, “we can elevate the profile of golf in Uganda, not only as a competitive sport but as a platform for character building, lifelong networks, and national pride.”
Lunkuse confessed that the task ahead is enormous with daunting challenges now that she is entrusted with chairing the Competitions Committee and spearheading Junior Golf Development across the country. I take these duties seriously, understanding that the future of golf in Uganda lies in nurturing the next generation, she said with conviction.
Busoga Kingdom Minister for Kyabazinga Affairs, Yudaya Babirye Kigenyi, congratulated Lunkuse upon her election as the Vice President of the Uganda Ladies Golf Union and said Busoga is looking up to her to develop golf in the region’s local communities, schools and institutions.
East African Legislative Assembly Member of Parliament and former Woman Member of Parliament for Buyende District, Veronica Babirye Kadogo, said Lunkuse’s achievements and aspirations are going to inspire women to take on the sport of golf in Busoga.
“Helen Tanyinga is a human rights advocate, mentor and development practitioner and is passionate about gender equality, community empowerment and climate justice. She will drive golf everywhere and to everyone. We should utilise her to catch up with golf in our schools, institutions and communities,” Kadogo said.
The proprietor of Richmond Hotel Butabala in Kamuli, Christopher Kalema, offered a free venue for meetings meant to develop the game. She invited the golf fraternity to introduce golf at Lillian Children Arena and Gardens Butabala. “We are a sporting family with deep roots in the community, so we shall give necessary support to Helen in her quest to develop golf in rural communities,” Kalema said.
Who is Lunkuse?
Lunkuse is the founder and executive director of Rape Hurts Foundation, which provides holistic support to survivors of gender-based violence. She is a trained legal researcher, project manager and policy analyst with extensive experience in advocacy, capacity building and youth mentorship.
She is an old girl of Wanyange Girls School in Jinja and Seeta High School in Mukono and an alumna of Makerere University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental management and a master’s in human rights.
