By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA and Isaiah Mwesige
Golf has always been a global game, but here in the 21st century, the game is reaching areas of the globe it hadn’t before. Born in Scotland, the game of golf has truly become a worldwide phenomenon over the past few hundred years and especially in the past century. Although the country of South Africa has given the world some of its all-time greatest golfers, you might not think of golf when considering the African continent.
Despite the fact that many people think of Africa for its safaris, animals, rural lands and urban centers, did you know that there are more than 800 golf courses on the continent, and the game’s popularity is growing all the time?
In Uganda, there’s a golf academy that was started in 2020 within the Toro Club in the city of Fort Portal. The AFRIYEA Golf Academy is the brainchild of Isaiah Mwesige, one of eight siblings who sadly lost both parents by the time he was 11 years old.
Mwesige moved in with his older brother and soon dropped out of school. He didn’t know much about golf at the time – or have any idea of its impact on his life and the mark he’d make on the game – but took a caddie job at a local nine-hole golf course, one of 16 tracks in the country.
Even amidst adversity as a youth in the heart of Uganda, Isaiah Mwesige’s golf journey unfolds as a testament to transformation. Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” as coined by Winston Churchill, Uganda harbors Isaiah’s remarkable narrative within the confines of its rugged terrain.
Isaiah recalls his golf journey beginning with a 14-kilometer trek to salvage lost golf balls among the unforgiving thickets of the “Valley of Tears,” notorious for thwarting players’ efforts at Toro. However, Isaiah’s resilience paved the path to financial security for his education by selling these retrieved golf balls to club members for a dollar a piece.
Isaiah’s ardor for golf swiftly endeared him to club members. Within a mere five years, his affable demeanor, coupled with a profound understanding of the game, catapulted him to prominence. Equipped with borrowed clubs or makeshift wooden sticks, Isaiah honed his skills, evolving from a humble caddy to a revered player. Despite limited access, the club’s benevolence granted him weekend playtime in exchange for grounds maintenance duties, fostering his unwavering devotion to the sport.
“Although golf is viewed as a global sport, and is now played both outdoors and indoors (on simulators), the accessibility to golf courses and equipment varies across the world. Yet one exceptional tale stands out, blending inclusivity, multigenerational engagement and environmental sustainability at its core,” he teases.
With the world locked down in mid-2020, Mwesige organized a free golf clinic for local juniors who needed an outlet from quarantine. After all, he had approached the Toro Club’s membership a year earlier with the idea of creating a junior golf program. With membership down and a noticeable need for younger participation in the game at Toro, Isaiah welcomed 30 kids – boys and girls – to a clinic being taught by a member of the Uganda National golf team.
As soon as it was over, the kids asked for more. They wanted to know when the next class was being held and how they could sign up. Mwesige was on to something. About 14 years after the game of golf started changing his life for the better, he sought to pay it forward for the many eager children who had never considered playing golf before but were now hooked.
Isaiah’s profound passion birthed the AFRIYEA Golf Academy in 2020. It has since distinguished itself by its unique amalgamation of golf proficiency, environmental consciousness and holistic education. The academy transcends conventional paradigms.
Mwesige’s noble endeavor seeks to increase access to golf, particularly among marginalized rural communities, nurturing talent while instilling essential life skills and environmental stewardship. Organizing inter-school championships, sustainability-focused junior golf tournaments and inclusive camps, the academy embodies Isaiah’s vision of inclusivity and excellence.
Despite financial constraints, Mwesige perseveres as the sole benefactor, occasionally buoyed by sporadic donations. Under the tutelage of former national team coach Stephen Kasaija, the academy boasts a cadre of 13 coaches, epitomizing excellence and mentorship. The fruits of Isaiah’s labor have come to fruition quickly and more noticeably recently, exemplified by the qualification of a pioneer student to Uganda’s national team, poised to compete in the All Africa Golf Championship in South Africa. That initial free clinic during COVID has manifested into the AFRIYEA Golf Academy, where Mwesige oversees 13 golf instructors who teach and mentor more than 1,000 kids in 31 schools around western Uganda.
According to an April 2024 GOLF Magazine piece, “In early 2023, the academy caught the eye of the R&A, which invited Isaiah to its International Golf Conference in Scotland, where he shared his story and made connections. Other golf-industry invitations followed. Offers of advice and services poured in. A new friend in the UK held a small fundraiser, one of the many quiet acts of kindness behind a program that depends on hand-me-down clubs, volunteer hours and a steady trickle of private donations.”
With an annual budget of about $25,000, Mwesige rents an office, manages the Academy’s website and pays for his instructors and the kids to get around. When the funds run out, Isaiah goes into his own pocket to ensure the bills are paid and the kids get the golf experiences that have shaped the growth of the Academy over the past four years.
“The hope is that support for us will grow because people like to associate themselves with success,” Isaiah says.
AFRIYEA Golf Academy programming includes junior golf, school golf, girls golf, a disability program, a mentorship program, a program to educate parents and more, including internships for eligible juniors.
Isaiah’s indomitable spirit has not only realized his lifelong dream of playing at the historic St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland but has also inspired countless individuals to embrace golf as a vehicle for positive change.
In Isaiah’s words, “Do good for the world, and the world will smile upon you.” His mission underscores a commitment to uplift Uganda’s youth through golf and education while championing sustainability to combat climate change.
