📷 MTN Kampala Marathon offers a menu of all reasons to run

Excitement was in the air as soon as it was announced that the MTN Kampala Marathon was returning for its 17^th edition, in October.

As is tradition, thousands of enthusiastic runners turned up on Sunday to ‘run for babies’; but the marathon, like many charity runs in the country, has become an attraction for various reasons.

For some it is a stress reliever/fitness drill on the day, for others it is a family day out while others take it as a party/fun run where they are able to express themselves and share jokes as they jog/walk on the Kampala streets.

It was no different on Sunday as runners mingled at Kololo for one of Uganda’s biggest runs. From dogs dressed to fit the occasion and escorting their masters to children running alongside their parents, and to men carrying children on their backs to match the theme of the run and to the selfie-mad social media freaks, everyone wanted to show that they were part of the marathon.

It didn’t matter for some running races that they didn’t subscribe to as long as they ran.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to the Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine, the Minister of State for Kampala Capital City Authority Kabuye Kyofatogabye, KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka to Sylvia Mulinge the MTN Uganda chief executive officer and other MTN staff no one was to be left out in the run that was aimed at raising funds to upgrade maternal and newborn facilities in health centres across the country.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (right) warms up alongside other runners before the MTN Marathon at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

As soon as the Prime Minister touched base at Kololo, she was already in the marathon mood and jumped on stage and volunteered to conduct a warm-up session before joining a Zumba dance warm session to prove to the doubters that she was also fit.

As she flagged off the races the excited Nabbanja almost turned it into a political rally with Museveni Oyee chants and assuring the runners how the dead died too soon (abaafa bapapa) to miss such an occasion.

After she flagged off the 42, 21 and 5km race at the upper Kololo terrace, she ran behind the 5km runners back to the ceremonial ground before she flagged off the popular 10km race.

After the race, music artists like Feffe Bussi, FiK Fameica and comedians Mad Rat and Chicco among others entertained the runners as they wound up the occasion.

The beneficiary health facilities from proceeds from this year’s run include Kisenyi and Kawaala health facilities in the suburbs of Kampala plus those in Kachumbala (Teso sub-region) and Kabong (Karamoja sub-region).

The run returned to the scene after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fik Fameica entertains runners after the marathon. Photo by Michael Nsubuga