Kampala, (UG):- President Yoweri Museveni through his Office of the National Chairman of NRM (ONC) has injected Shs 50 million in this year’s Kabaka Birthday Run happening on Sunday at Lubiri Mengo.
The annual run this year is under the theme “Men are stars in the fight against HIV/AIDS to save the Girl Child,” as the Kabaka of Buganda, His Majesty Ronald Muwenda MUtebi II marks the second instalment as the Goodwill Ambassador of a three-year focus on combating HIV/AIDS.
The shs50m cash donation was today, (Friday, April 05, 2024) handed over to Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga by ONC Manager, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye during a momentous function held at Bulange Mengo as a gesture of President Museveni’s unending support towards Buganda activities.
In her remarks, Hajjat Namyalo, popularly known as the Chief Muzzukulu clarified that the support stems directly from the National Chairman of NRM, H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and assured the Katikkiro of Bazzukulu’s full participation in Sunday’s run.
Namyalo noted that it was through her recent meeting with the president, that she pitched the concept of the Kabaka’s marathon, which Jajja Museveni enthusiastically endorsed due to its charitable cause; the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge by 2030.
“Earlier this week I had a meeting with the National Chairman in Rwakitura, and I told him your Bazzukulu in Buganda Kingdom are organizing Kabaka’s birthday run that aims at sensitizing Ugandans against HIV/AIDs and curbing its spread, he was happy with this and told me to come and give support,” said Namyalo.
She also advised Ugandans especially the youths to take all precautionary measures against HIV/AIDS before urging all the bazzukulu not to let Museveni step off the ballot come 2026.
In his remarks, Katikkiro Mayiga praised Hajjat Namyalo revealing that Chief Muzzukulu has been so supportive to the Kingdom on a couple of events.
“This is not the first time Hajjat Namyalo is coming to support us, she has been with us and we are really happy that even this year you have bounced back with this support of Ugx50m for the run,” said Katikkiro.
Mayiga further hailed President Museveni for the efforts put in by his government in the fight against AIDS. “HE Yoweri Museveni when he came into power in 1986, he came speaking the language we are speaking today, a language of fighting HIV/AIDS. So this war we can’t fight it alone without the government’s support,” he said.
Hajjat Namyalo was Friday escorted to Bulange by Kampala central Mayor Salim Uhuru, Bukomansimbi District NRM Chairperson Hajj Mwanje Shafik, Kampala Region ONC Coordinators, among others.
About the Kabaka Birthday Run
Now in its 11th edition, the annual Kabaka Birthday run is expected to light up the streets of Mengo in Kampala with hundreds of thousands expected to take part in the event come Sunday, April 07, 2024
The run is organised by the Buganda Kingdom in partnership with Airtel Uganda, as a celebration of King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s birthday, and to champion noble global health causes.
The theme this year is, “Ending HIV/AIDs by 2030”, which is a continuation of the fight against HIV/Aids. Past campaigns included awareness of fistula and sickle cells.
The run last year saw over 100,000 kits sold as participants took part in the 10km and 5km races around the kingdom’s headquarters in Mengo, and the Kingdom expects this year to host more participants who will take part in the run from within Kampala and around the 18 counties of the kingdom, the diaspora inclusive.
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