In a landmark partnership set to reshape Rwanda’s sporting and environmental landscape, NCBA Rwanda and Kigali Golf Resort & Villas have joined forces to use golf as a vehicle for youth development, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment.

Announced on Friday in Kigali, the collaboration marks the official launch of the second edition of Swing Your Way to Greatness, NCBA’s flagship golf tournament which will now include Rwanda’s first-ever Junior Golf Series. With more than 80 young golfers expected to participate, the event is poised to open up new opportunities in a sport traditionally seen as elite.

“Swing Your Way to Greatness is about more than golf,” says Maurice Toroitich, Managing Director of NCBA Group. “It’s a symbol of our purpose as a bank. We are here to change the story to make every swing, every tree, every opportunity count. Rwanda is showing how this vision comes to life through sport, sustainability, and service to community.”

As part of their broader environmental commitment, NCBA and Kigali Golf Resort will plant more than 10,000 trees around the golf course and neighboring communities. Already, 3,000 trees have been planted. The remaining 7,000 will be introduced in the coming months.

The initiative is aligned with NCBA Group’s regional pledge to grow 10 million trees by 2030 across East Africa, a key pillar of its sustainability agenda.

The introduction of the Junior Golf Series is a milestone in Rwanda’s sporting development. Organizers say the event is designed to nurture young talent and increase access to golf for children and teenagers, regardless of background.

NCBA’s previous tournaments across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have drawn thousands of participants and helped reposition golf as a platform for inclusion, networking, and community development. The expansion into Rwanda continues that mission with a particular focus on youth and women.

The partnership also supports broader community initiatives. According to Gaston Karemera, CEO of Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, the partnership has already provided health insurance to over 3,000 residents living near the course.

“We’re thrilled to support the Junior Golf Series and to continue building real value in our community. With NCBA, we’ve already provided health insurance to over 3,000 residents around the country, and we are just getting started,” Karemera said.

The inaugural NCBA Rwanda Golf Series last year featured two major tournaments and brought together more than 200 players, ranging from local amateurs to seasoned professionals. The top three Rwandan golfers, Paul Ntaganda, Alphonsine Murekatete, and Bethlehem Umuzabibu, went on to represent Rwanda at the NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, standing alongside elite players from across East Africa.

Their performances and the nationwide attention they drew inspired a wave of interest among young Rwandans, a wave this new partnership aims to accelerate.

With the new season of Swing Your Way to Greatness officially underway, NCBA Rwanda and Kigali Golf Resort say their focus is firmly on impact, not just trophies.

“We don’t believe in passive commitments,” Toroitich adds. “We believe in real action, in local partnerships, and long-term results. That’s what 'Change the Story' means.”