Monica Ntege: Engineer, Golf Icon, and Trailblazing Minister Who Captured Hearts

Monica Azuba Ntege, born on February 12, 1956, in Busoga, carved a multifaceted legacy in engineering, sports, and public service. She attended Gayaza High School and earned a Civil Engineering degree from Makerere University in 1978.

Her professional path included roles at Uganda Commercial Bank and Stanbic Bank, where she advanced to facilities manager, showcasing discipline and precision in infrastructure management.

Sport was in her blood. With a family background in athletics—her brother in basketball and cricket, her sister in golf—Monica shone as Uganda’s top female tennis player in the early 1990s, competing internationally before switching to golf in the mid-1980s at Uganda Golf Club.

There, she dominated local tournaments, filling her trophy cabinet, but the Uganda Ladies Open eluded her. She finished runner-up nine times between 1993 and 2006, and in a heartbreaking 2007 playoff against Mary Karano, pressure led to a falter. Undeterred, she claimed the prestigious Entebbe Ladies Open in 2014.

Known for her warmth, Monica connected with journalists and youngsters at the golf club’s 19th hole, often treating them generously alongside her late husband, Mark Ntege, who passed in January 2025. Their son, Maurice, a junior golfer turned engineer, shared memorable moments with her.

In 2016, President Yoweri Museveni appointed her Minister of Works and Transport. She oversaw key projects like the Entebbe Expressway, airport expansions, and Uganda Airlines’ revival, emphasizing consultation and results.

Monica gave back as president of the Uganda Ladies Golf Union and All Africa Challenge Trophy, fostering women’s golf regionally and grooming talents like Eva Magala.

Her life exemplified perseverance and humanity, proving true greatness lies beyond trophies in inspiring others.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)