Monica Ntege: Golf Star, Engineer, and Minister Who Conquered All But One Title

Monica Azuba Ntege, born on February 12, 1956, in Uganda’s Busoga region, was a multifaceted icon who excelled in engineering, sports, and public service. She graduated from Makerere University in 1978 with a civil engineering degree and built a successful career, rising to Facilities Manager at Stanbic Bank.

Sport was in her blood, with her brother Chris Henry Azuba shining in basketball and cricket, and sister Rose respected in golf circles. Ntege first dominated women’s tennis in the early 1990s as Uganda’s top player before switching to golf at Uganda Golf Club in the mid-1980s.

There, she became a consistent force, securing nearly every major local trophy. Yet the Uganda Ladies Open eluded her—she finished runner-up nine times from 1993 to 2006, and again in a heartbreaking 2007 playoff against Kenya’s Mary Karano. ‘I think I was born to finish second,’ she quipped.

Undeterred, her 2014 Entebbe Ladies Open victory stood out as a regional highlight. Ntege’s warmth shone off the course; she generously supported journalists and young professionals, often with her late husband Mark Ntege picking up tabs at the 19th hole.

In 2016, President Museveni appointed her Minister of Works and Transport, where she advanced projects like the Entebbe Expressway, airport expansions, and Uganda Airlines revival. She championed consultation and results-driven leadership.

A key figure in women’s golf, she led the Uganda Ladies Golf Union, the All Africa Challenge Trophy, and founded the East & Central Africa chapter, mentoring talents like Eva Magala.

Faith guided her through career pursuits and illness. Ntege passed away on April 21, 2026, at Nakasero Hospital after battling cancer, leaving eight children, grandchildren, and a profound legacy of resilience and kindness.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)