500 runners targeted for the 50km Kyambogo Ultra Challenge Run

Ugandan runners participating in this year’s Comrades Marathon in South Africa in June will fine-tune for the event when they compete in the Annual Kyambogo Ultra Challenge Run, due May 4.

Just like the 12-hour-87km ‘ultimate human race’ in South Africa, which will have about 30 Ugandans, participating in the Kyambogo Ultra Challenge is not your ordinary marathon but one that encompasses 25 and 50km race routes.

It is the reason this year’s 14th edition which will start at the Kyambogo Cricket Oval, has attracted new partners in KCB Bank that will dress the runners as well as provide medals to each of the participants upon completion of their race.

KCB Bank Head of Marketing and Communications Diana Komukama Ssempebwa (right) and KCB’s Head Institutional and Transitional Banking Moses Muhwezi (4th left), the Hash Master Wilberforce Kyambadde (3rd right) and Julius Nkuraija (center) the CEO Kyambogo Ultra Run pose with some of the running clubs representatives during the launch of the Kyambogo Ultra Run at KCB offices, April 9, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Addressing the press during the launch of the race at KCB Bank headquarters on Tuesday the bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Diana Komukama Ssempebwa said they had come on board because they were passionate about sports and want to see sports in the country grow including the runs like the Kyambogo Ultra Challenge Run that is on the trajectory of attracting international runners.

“We are keen to see that growth that is why this partnership is very critical, we applaud the organisers for running it for the last 13 years and we are looking forward to people taking part, and also applaud the running community that has kept it going,” Komukama who announced a sh20m sponsorship for the event, said.

She said runners shall pay sh50,000 for the run via the KCB Pay platform by dialing *244*9# and entering 124810 as the merchant code.

“We have come in to grow this initiative as we support healthy lifestyles through activities like running among other sports and I look forward to the day when this run will be about tourism and the economy, as we get the chance to showcase who we are as Uganda that is why we are proud to partner,” Komukama stated.

Julius Nkuraija the CEO of Kyambogo Ultra Run welcomed the new partners and encouraged all Ugandans to participate in such runs to rip the immense health benefits that accrue.

He said the run will eventually embrace an environmental protection cause after it gathers momentum and continues to grow to the required standards.

“This run is built around running clubs in the country and we began it as a training race but we now want to grow it as one of the best runs in the region that attracts foreign participation,” Nkuraija said.

“We are intentional with whatever we do because we are also runners and we know what we want. When we go outside the country to run we copy what is good from there and that is what we are trying to implement here.

“In the long run, we would like to benefit the communities and all our stakeholders because we have other partners that want to join us. We shall be running via a route we deem safe for our runners,” he stated.

The 50km run will start at Kyambogo University and go through Kyambogo Estate and Industrial Area before connecting to Ntinda, Kiwatule, Najjeera, Kira, Nsasa, Bukerere, Sseeta, Namugongo and back to Kyambogo.

The 25km route also meanders through the industrial area via Naguru Hill, Ntinda, and the neighbouring towns before runners return to Kyambogo.

The launch was attended among others by Moses Muhwezi KCB’s Head of Institutional and Transitional Banking, the Hash Master Wilberforce Kyambadde, Moses Amoni one of the organisers, and different running clubs’ representatives Don Akatukunda, Newton Mbaziira among others.