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Kigali Golf Club: Image Credit - Sunshine Tour

The growth and development of golf in Africa has taken a major step following the announcement of the first-ever Rwanda Open, pencilled in for September at Kigali Golf Club.

This will be the first Sunshine Tour-sanctioned event on Rwandan soil. It is scheduled for 24–27 September and will be broadcast live on SuperSport, marking a major milestone for East African golf.

With a R2.5 million purse, the Rwanda Open is being held in partnership with Visit Rwanda, the Rwanda Ministry of Sports and the Rwanda Golf Union. The field will comprise Sunshine Tour professionals, Rwandan professionals, leading amateur stars and a host of players from across Africa, as part of the ongoing drive to grow the game on the continent and provide a pathway for African golfers to the HotelPlanner Tour, DP World Tour and, ultimately, the PGA TOUR.

“Rwanda is positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading destinations for world-class sporting events, having successfully hosted the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the Basketball Africa League since its inaugural season in 2021, the 2023 FIFA Congress and FIFA Series 2026, and the 2024 FIA Awards. We are delighted to welcome the Sunshine Tour to Rwanda for the inaugural Rwanda Open, adding another landmark event to our growing portfolio of world-class sporting events.

“We look forward to welcoming players, their families, and golf fans from around the world to experience not only the tournament, but also Rwanda’s warm hospitality, breathtaking landscapes, unique wildlife, vibrant culture, and unforgettable experiences. Whether before or after the championship, visitors will discover there is so much more to explore across the Land of a Thousand Hills,” said Janet Karemera, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Convention Bureau (via Sunshine Tour).

The Minister of Sports, Honourable Nelly Mukazayire, said the tournament reflects Rwanda’s commitment to developing golf and creating opportunities for its athletes.

“The Rwanda Open 2026 represents another significant milestone in Rwanda’s journey to becoming a leading destination for international sporting events. As the country’s first Sunshine Tour-sanctioned tournament, it reflects our commitment to developing golf, creating opportunities for our athletes, and using sport as a catalyst for tourism, economic growth and international engagement. We are proud to support this historic event and look forward to welcoming players and visitors from across Africa and around the world to Kigali,” said Mukazayire.

Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt said the new Rwanda Open is another positive step towards offering opportunities for African golfers on the global stage.

“We are extremely proud to be partnering with Visit Rwanda in their golf and tourism objectives through the new Rwanda Open. It’s exciting for us to be able to keep growing the game in Africa and helping to provide life-changing opportunities for African golfers to realise their dreams of playing on the biggest stages in the game,” said Abt.