PACEID Urges Private Sector to Participate in the Kampala City Marathon to Debut in December 2024

At a press briefing this morning, Monday, April 29, 2024 at the Uganda Media Centre, Matthew Bagonza, the head of the Secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), urged the private sector, particularly those in the tourism industry, to participate in the upcoming first edition of the Kampala City Marathon scheduled for December 2024.

The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang. The Kampala City Marathon is an initiative aimed at boosting tourism and investment in Uganda.

The Kampala City Marathon is being organized by the government through the Ministry of Education and Sports and PACEID in conjunction with the private sector to profile Uganda’s socio-cultural and economic endowment. The marathon will also aim to promote the health of the population- through engagement in physical activity as a lifestyle to prevent non-communicable diseases.

In his remarks, Hon. Peter Ogwang revealed that the marathon is a ten-year project to brand Kampala City and Uganda as a preferred tourist destination as well as a strategy to generate revenue for the country.

“The Kampala City Marathon is poised to be one of the top marathon races in Africa that will be key in helping our country attract tens of thousands of visitors to experience the best of the Ugandan spirit and hospitality. It will also offer us an opportunity to showcase our stellar long-distance running tradition and of course, celebrate the beauty and diversity that makes Uganda truly unique. We also have the added benefit of doing this while keeping our people fit and thus reducing the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases.”

Hon. Ogwang also thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is passionate about physical activity, for fully funding this first-ever edition of the Kampala City Marathon. “We thank His Excellency the President for his support and commitment to the physical well-being of Ugandans”.

The Kampala City Marathon will have four major races; 42.195km, 29.097km, 10km, and 5km. These events are expected to start and finish at the Mandela National Stadium and will be open to elite and regular local and foreign runners/joggers. The vision is to involve over 65, 0000 participants from all over the world in the 10 years.

Bagonza, speaking at the briefing, emphasized the importance of the private sector’s involvement in the success of the Kampala City Marathon. “We are excited to be launching the first Kampala City Marathon that will debut in December 2024, and we are calling on the private sector, especially those in the tourism industry, to come on board and be part of this exciting event”.

PACEID under the leadership of Odrek Rwabwogo is working with several government departments to help drive up Uganda’s export earnings through a multi-pronged approach, to increase export earnings to the country by more than 6 billion USD in the short to medium term and the Kampala City Marathon is one of such avenues.

The idea is supported by the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Sport, Enterprise and Development who is also the former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Heritage and Culture, Amina Mohamed. Among her numerous wins are the revamped and very successful Kenya Safari Rally and the Nairobi City Marathon.

Former Cabinet Secretary Amina and her compatriot Ambassador Julius Kiema Kilonzo will be working with PACEID to help realize this dream. They will be supported by the Golazo team, a Belgian event management company with vast experience in organizing international marathons all over the world like; in Berlin, Nairobi, Rotterdam, and Brussels among others.

Robert Verbeeck from Golazo expressed confidence that the Kampala City Marathon will become a premier sporting event in the region, and also encouraged the private sector to get involved to make this a success.

The National Council of Sports and Uganda Athletics Federation are also involved in the organization to ensure that the marathon becomes a success.

The first edition of the Kampala City Marathon is scheduled to take place on the first weekend of December 2024, and organizers are expecting a strong turnout from both local and international participants.