MTN Uganda commits UGX 100 million to support professional golfer Ronald Rugumayo

MTN Uganda has today announced a UGX 100 million sponsorship for Uganda’s only professional golfer on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, Ronald Rugumayo, fondly known as Mayo. This support is part of a broader national campaign dubbed “Friends of Mayo,” which aims to rally Ugandans to stand behind one of their own as he flies the national flag on global fairways.

Despite rising through the ranks to become the first Ugandan to play on the DP World Tour and compete on the international circuit in countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, Dubai, and the United Kingdom, Mayo’s journey has been largely self-funded and without significant sponsorship. MTN Uganda’s new partnership is designed to change that.

“We at MTN Uganda believe the future is digital—and local. Mayo represents both. His talent, resilience, and ambition are exactly the kind of stories we want to support and share,” said Ian Mugambe, Marketing Manager – Devices at MTN Uganda. “With this sponsorship, we are saying to all Ugandans: support starts at home. Let’s back our champions.”

To ensure broad participation in this support, MTN has also launched a national fundraising campaign through MTN MoMoPay code 719110, allowing individuals and organizations to directly contribute to Mayo’s international journey.

As part of this unique campaign, Mayo has also been named as the official brand ambassador for the new Samsung S25 Series. Mayo will create and share exclusive monthly content capturing his training, competitions, and lifestyle—bringing fans closer to the action through the lens of the S25. In addition, MTN and Samsung will run a quarterly draw, giving fans a chance to win a brand-new S25 smartphone.

“This campaign is not just about golf. It’s about national pride, youth empowerment, and showing our young people that dreams are valid—and achievable with support,” added Mugambe. “Mayo’s journey is Uganda’s journey. Let’s walk it together.”

MTN Uganda’s support for Mayo aligns with its broader commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive growth under its Ambition 2025 strategy, which emphasizes local talent, innovation, and access to opportunities.

Rugumayo extended his heartfelt appreciation to MTN Uganda, MTN Mobile Money (MoMo), and Samsung for responding to his call and offering their support as he continues to represent Uganda on the international golf stage.

“As many of you know, golf is a sport that requires substantial support—particularly financial. The journey has not been easy, but I am deeply grateful to God for surrounding me with the right people,” Rugumayo said.

“To my fellow Ugandans, I want you to know: I was born for this. Playing professional golf has always been my dream. Today, with the generous backing of MTN, MTN MoMo, and Samsung, that dream is even closer to reality,” he added.

“As an athlete, I remain committed to pushing beyond my limits and representing Uganda with greater excellence and pride—just as I have always done, but now with renewed strength and determination.”

As the “Friends of Mayo” campaign officially launches, MTN Uganda is rallying Ugandans—from sports enthusiasts and youth to corporate leaders and patriots—to stand behind one of Uganda’s golfing icons and be part of his continued journey to greatness.

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices, and MTN Mobile Money (conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 202,000 MoMo agents, 382,000 MoMo merchants, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the full year period ended June 30, 2024, MTN Uganda had 20.7 million subscribers, 12.5 million MoMo users, and 8.8 million active data users.

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN.” We are pursuing our Ambition 2021 strategy, focusing on growth in data, fintech, and digital businesses.