By Our Reporter
Joshua Baraka is set to headline the Johnnie Walker Afro Exchange 19th hole experience this Saturday, September 5, as the 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship reaches its climax at Uganda Golf Club.
The closing celebration will take on a distinctly Nigerian identity, running under the theme “Lagos Night.”
Music lovers and golf enthusiasts will have the opportunity to be part of the audience that will be the first to watch Baraka perform his latest banger- YoYo, live. The song is currently topping charts and gaining strong traction across the continent and beyond.
His headline performance also comes at a significant point in his relationship with Johnnie Walker. The Ugandan singer was recently unveiled as the brand’s new Icon Walker and face of the new Keep Walking campaign in Uganda.
The Lagos Night theme continues the Johnnie Walker Afro Exchange tradition of giving the Uganda Open’s 19th hole experiences different African identities. Previous editions have explored other cultural themes.
Music, fashion, food and entertainment from across the continent, will shape the evening, while leaning towards the vibrant culture and energy of Nigeria’s commercial and cultural capital.
Guests are expected to dress in line with the theme, with white-and-green outfits, representing the colors of the Nigerian national flag, expected to bring a sharp African look to the evening, as the tournament’s diverse field gathers after the final round of the Professionals’ competition.
Johnnie Walker East Africa Brand Manager, Christine Kyokunda, said the Lagos Night themed 19th-hole experience will bring a fresh dimension to this year’s Uganda Open grand finale.
“Afro Exchange continues to give us a unique way to connect the Johnnie Walker brand with the golfing community. With each event of the tournament, we looked at how we could make the experience feel fresh, while celebrating the spirit of progress and togetherness at the heart of Keep Walking. As we close out the 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open, we are looking forward to creating a 19th-hole experience that reflects that spirit and one that shall leave golfers and guests with memories to last for a very long time,” Kyokunda said.
Meanwhile, DJs Shock and Sean, will curate a pan-African soundtrack for the evening, with sounds from Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania, expected to top the playlists.
The expected musical diversity will mirror the tournament itself, which has attracted players from across the continent, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Cameroon, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.
That continental representation gives the 19th hole a significance beyond entertainment.
Johnnie Walker will also have a range of its products available throughout the evening, with different bottle offerings and serves planned to ensure guests enjoy the brand as they celebrate the close of the tournament.