KAMPALA, UGANDA: MTN Uganda in partnership with Huawei, Stanbic Bank, New Vision, Rwenzori, NBS TV and KCCA has announced the return of the MTN Kampala Marathon after a two-year break due to restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2022 MTN Kampala Marathon edition running under the theme; “Run for Babies” will take place on Sunday 20th November starting at the Kololo independence grounds.
Participating runners will take part in any of 4 categories including; the full marathon (42Km), half marathon (21Km), 10Km race and 5Km fun run. The wheelchair race (10Km) shall be held on Sunday 13th November 2022.
First organized in 2004, the MTN Kampala Marathon has been a mainstay on the Ugandan sports calendar and a major springboard for East Africa’s elite athletes.
While launching the MTN Kampala Marathon 2022 at the MTN Uganda Head offices today, Ms Sylvia Mulinge, the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer announced that the proceeds from this year’s Marathon shall be used again to upgrade maternal and newborn facilities in health centers across the country.
“As a continuation to the tremendous impact that the Marathon has achieved over the past years, this year’s marathon proceeds shall similarly be dedicated to further improving the selected maternal and neonatal health facilities, by refurbishing and equipping them to save the lives of mothers and babies,” Mulinge said, urging the public to participate and contribute in the noble cause.
As is the case in many sub-Saharan countries, statistics indicate that there are an estimated 336 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 43 infant deaths per 1000 live births in Uganda, with 42% of the children’s mortality occurring during the neonatal period (source: Uganda Health and Demographic Survey, 2016 – UNFPA).
“It is therefore through such initiatives that the public and corporate companies can join hands with the government to ensure better health service delivery that is critical in the elimination of these preventable deaths among mothers and babies,” she added.
Over the years, contributions from the MTN Kampala Marathon have supported the area of maternal and child health tremendously. Shs 900m was raised from the MTN Marathon editions of 2018 and 2019 and that together with a top of Shs 400m from MTN Foundation was used to refurbish maternal wards in four health centers across the country.
In addition to being the most professional Marathon in the region, the MTN Kampala Marathon has earned its place as the biggest charity-inspired marathon, giving participants a good reason to run, not only for their own health and fitness but to also contribute to projects that have supported
communities over the years.
Proceeds from this year’s Marathon shall be used to upgrade maternal and newborn services in four selected health facilities across the country. The beneficiary health facilities include Kisenyi and Kawaala health facilities in the suburbs of Kampala plus those in Kachumbala (Teso sub-region) and Kabong (Karamoja sub-region)
This year’s kit features a running belt that offers a secure and convenient way for runners to keep their valuables and water bottle to rehydrate, while they run.
Over the years, contributions from the MTN Kampala Marathon have supported the area of maternal and child health tremendously. Ushs.900m was raised from the MTN Marathon editions of 2018 and 2019 and that together with a top of Ushs.400m from MTN Foundation, was used to refurbish maternal wards in four health centers across the country.
The MTN Kampala Marathon has, over the years raised Shs 4bn+ and benefitted several causes such as helping expectant mothers with maternity kit, resettling people displaced by war in northern Uganda, delivering clean water and improving sanitation in communities/schools, and most recently, improving maternal in health facilities.
Kit prices and kit items for the various MTN Kampala Marathon race categories
| Race categories | Kids’ Kit | Wheelchair Race | 5 Kms | 10Kms | 21Kms | 42 Kms | |
| Payment options | Cash | 5,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| MoMo | 5,000 | 10,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 (Timing) 35,000 (No timing) | 20,000 | 20,000 | |
| Kit items | T. Shirt | Vest, Sun visor, Running belt, bottle | Vest, Sun visor, Running belt, bottle, timing chip |
Speaking at the launch, Anne Juuko, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic Bank said, “We at Stanbic are very proud to be associated with MTN, and even more proud to be doing that for a good cause for the last 8 years. We value the partnership with MTN due to the immense power that lies in collaborations for a common good cause. There is no nobler cause than supporting maternal and newborn health. As such, we are contributing Ush.170 million shillings to this endeavor.”
MTN MoMo Ltd- Richard Yego, Managing Director, MTN MoMo Limited said, “As has been the norm, MTN MoMo will support the MTN Kampala Marathon by discounting all the kits that shall be paid for via MTN MoMo. Following the past 2 years of the pandemic, discounting the kits is our way of ensuring that many more people take part in the MTN Kampala Marathon. The children are the future of this country and it is important that we support them right from birth. Be vigilant to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.”
The MTN Marathon pledges to continue playing its role in connecting and uniting Ugandans to causes that make a difference in the lives of thousands (if not millions) across the country.
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