Opio Onito remembers Sadi 21 years on ahead of 2026 Uganda Open

Opio Onito will pay tribute to his late father, Sadi Onito, when the 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Amateur Open Golf Championship is held at Uganda Golf Club from 25 to 28 August, 21 years after the death of one of Uganda’s greatest golfers.

Sadi won the Uganda Open 12 times, beginning with his first title in 1976. His other victories came in 1977, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1996, establishing a record that remains central to his legacy in Ugandan golf.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Opio regards his father as both the country’s finest golfer and a major influence on his own sporting life. Sadi introduced his children to the game and guided Opio, his late sons Charles Yokwe and Renato Sebbi Onito, and Grace Ocici as they began their careers.

The siblings first played tennis before moving into golf. Opio and Grace later returned to tennis, while Opio is developing a foundation and hopes to resume golf in the future. Neither he nor Grace will compete in this year’s Open, with sponsorship difficulties making it hard to sustain competitive golf.

The family’s combined Uganda Open record stands at 14 victories when Yokwe’s wins in 2003 and 2005 are included. Yokwe later became a professional and died in a road accident in Lugazi in 2006. Sadi’s rivalry with Juma Jaffar during the early 1980s also marked a significant period in the country’s golf history.

Opio remembers his father as calm, humble and generous away from the course, as well as deeply committed to golf and to representing Uganda. Sadi was known for wearing red trousers during final rounds and a kangaroo cap, while his passion for the sport helped inspire the family’s involvement in both golf and tennis.

The 2026 championship will offer a total prize fund of 15 million, with 3 million going to the winner. Golfers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Ghana and Malawi are expected to compete in the Official World Golf Ranking event.