Overview:
Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon Team Lead Amos Wekesa hinted the continued assist from Government and key stakeholders demonstrates confidence within the marathon’s imaginative and prescient of positioning Uganda as a number one sports activities tourism vacation spot whereas creating alternatives for native athletes to compete on an internationally acknowledged course.
The Government of Uganda has reaffirmed its dedication to the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon by presenting a symbolic dummy cheque price Shs3.7 billion, fulfilling its earlier pledge to assist the occasion over the subsequent 4 years forward of the marathon’s fifth version scheduled for August 22, 2026, in Kasese.
The dummy cheque was introduced by the State Minister for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, throughout a press held on Thursday, 16 July 2026 at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, highlighting authorities’s continued funding in sports activities tourism and Uganda’s rising profile as a vacation spot for worldwide sporting occasions.
On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, below the management of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, authorities is proud to fulfil its dedication to assist the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon. This funding is about greater than a race, it’s about rising sports activities tourism, creating alternatives for our athletes, stimulating native companies and showcasing Uganda to the world.
Hon. Peter Ogwang, Minister of State for Sports
The authorities dedication will go in the direction of prize cash, serving to to draw and increase participation by elite athletes.
The launch additionally introduced welcome reassurance from the Ministry of Health, which confirmed that the marathon will proceed as deliberate regardless of latest public well being considerations.
Speaking throughout the occasion, Ministry of Health spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona mentioned Uganda’s well being techniques stay totally ready, noting that the nation had marked a big milestone with the discharge of its final Ebola affected person.
The Ministry of Health needs to guarantee all Ugandans and our worldwide guests that the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon will happen as scheduled. With the profitable discharge of the nation’s final Ebola patientthis morning, we’ve made important progress in containing the outbreak. We encourage individuals to return and benefit from the marathon whereas observing the usual well being measures that preserve everybody protected.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ministry of Health spokesperson
The fifth version comes at a big second for the marathon, which lately attained World Athletics Label Road Race standing, putting it amongst a choose group of internationally licensed street races in Africa.
Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon Team Lead Amos Wekesa hinted the continued assist from Government and key stakeholders demonstrates confidence within the marathon’s imaginative and prescient of positioning Uganda as a number one sports activities tourism vacation spot whereas creating alternatives for native athletes to compete on an internationally acknowledged course.
“From the very starting, our imaginative and prescient has been to create a marathon that showcases Uganda’s magnificence whereas giving our athletes an internationally recognised platform to compete and qualify for a number of the world’s largest races. Government’s assist and the boldness proven by our companions will assist us proceed elevating the requirements of this occasion,” Wekesa mentioned.
Tusker Lite Brand Manager- Sandra Againe mentioned the model stays dedicated tothe partnership.
“For 5 consecutive years, Tusker Lite has proudly partnered with the Rwenzori Marathon as a result of it embodies our perception in dwelling boldly, staying energetic and creating unforgettable experiences. We are excited to welcome 1000’s of runners from Uganda and world wide to Kasese this August for an additional world-class version that may as soon as once more showcase the perfect of our nation,” Againe mentioned.
Uganda Tourism Board Vice Chairperson- Ron Kawamara mentioned the marathon has turn out to be one in every of Uganda’s flagship tourism merchandise by combining elite athletics with the nation’s distinctive pure points of interest.
“The Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon has reworked sports activities into a robust tourism driver. It attracts guests who keep longer, discover extra locations and contribute on to native communities. It has firmly positioned Uganda amongst Africa’s main vacation spot marathons and continues to showcase the unbelievable great thing about Kasese and the Rwenzori area to the world,” Kawamara mentioned.
National Council of Sports General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel recommended the marathon for setting excessive organisational requirements and elevating Uganda’s worldwide sporting profile.
“The National Council of Sports is proud to assist occasions that meet worldwide requirements whereas creating alternatives for Ugandan athletes and galvanizing higher participation in sport. The Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon has turn out to be a benchmark for street racing in Uganda and continues to contribute considerably to the nation’s sports activities improvement agenda,” Dr Ogwel mentioned.
This 12 months’s version is anticipated to be the most important but, with organisers focusing on 8,000 individuals from the world over.
Runners from greater than 20 nations have already registered, underscoring the marathon’s rising worldwide attraction and its popularity as one in every of Africa’s fastest-rising vacation spot races.
