NCBA has once again reaffirmed its place at the centre of East African golf after officially launching the 2026 NCBA Golf Series at the Karen Country Club on Thursday.
The regional series, which will run across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, marks the sixth edition of the tournament and builds on five successful years that have seen NCBA emerge as the biggest corporate supporter of golf in the region.
Launched on Thursday, January 15, the 2026 edition will feature an expanded calendar of events and increased investment, with NCBA committing more than Ksh 60 million towards golf development this year.
As part of the launch, NCBA announced the renewal of its partnerships with the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF), a move aimed at strengthening amateur and junior golf across East Africa.
Under the renewed agreement, the Kenya Golf Union will receive Ksh 6 million to support the 2026 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series. The amateur circuit teed off on Thursday with the NCBA Sigona Bowl at Sigona Golf Club, setting the pace for what is expected to be another highly competitive season.
The Junior Golf Foundation will receive Ksh 12 million to fund junior tournaments throughout the year, with a strong focus on talent development, structured competition and widening access to the game for young players.
Speaking during the launch, NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora highlighted the wider impact of the series beyond competition.
“We are excited to launch the 2026 NCBA Golf Series. Each event is targeted at club members and customers, juniors, amateurs, and professionals and offers a platform for competition, friendship, and personal growth, reinforcing the values that bind us together as a community. Our annual investment of over Ksh 60 million is not just a statistic; it reflects on lives touched, dreams ignited, and a legacy of excellence we are proud to nurture.”
Gachora also reaffirmed NCBA’s commitment to junior golf, noting the progress made in recent years.
“This year we will see an expanded calendar for our juniors across the region and we are happy to be on the forefront to support the Junior Golf Federation. Last year, we saw junior players triumph when they came up against amateur golfers and we would like to see the same continue this year. At NCBA, we believe that the future of golf lies in nurturing young talent.”
The 2026 NCBA Golf Series will feature 35 events in Kenya alone, comprising 13 main qualifiers, 14 Mug events and two Club Nites. Uganda will host three events, Rwanda two, and Tanzania one.
Royal Nairobi Golf Club will host the first leg of the series on January 31, 2026. The tour will then travel across the country before culminating in the Grand Finale on November 27, 2026, at Karen Country Club.
166 golf events
Overall, the NCBA-sponsored 2026 calendar will feature 166 golf events across the four countries, an increase from 164 events held in 2025. Kenya will host the majority with 123 events, followed by Uganda with 35, Tanzania with five and Rwanda with three.
Junior golf will account for 90 of the 166 events. Kenya will host 49 junior tournaments, Uganda 32, Tanzania four and Rwanda one. This will be the second time Rwanda is hosting a junior event under the NCBA banner, following its debut last year.
Kenya Golf Union Chairman Chris Kinuthia welcomed NCBA’s continued backing of the amateur game.
“As the Kenya Golf Union, we are delighted to continue our partnership with the NCBA Group for our 2026 activities. Last year, we had one of the most competitive Kenya Amateur Golf Championship Series. When we have such partnerships, the amateurs have something to play for because the prize money is a good motivation. This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to nurturing golfing talent and promoting the sport’s growth in Kenya and beyond. We look forward to a competitive and exciting season ahead.”
Junior Golf Foundation President Vincent Mukiri also praised NCBA’s role in transforming junior golf in the region.
“This partnership has revolutionised junior golf development across Kenya and East Africa. It provides young golfers with vital competitive platforms, skill-building opportunities, and pathways for growth. When the juniors see a clear pathway being created through the different levels, just as NCBA is doing, they want to go up the levels and turn pros because they have something to look up to. Expanding junior tournaments to Rwanda and scaling events regionally demonstrates an unwavering commitment to elevating golf throughout East Africa.”
The junior calendar will officially get underway on Sunday, February 8, with the NCBA U.S. Kids Golf Spring Nairobi Tour at VetLab Sports Club, marking the first of many junior events lined up for the year.
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