KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has endorsed the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon as a platform for sports diplomacy and tourism promotion, as organisers and environmental advocates use the event to raise awareness about air pollution and the need for cleaner transport in Uganda.
The Ministry convened a media activation for the fifth edition of the marathon in Kampala, ahead of the main race scheduled for August 22 in Kasese.
Amb. Joh Leonard Mugerwa, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s support for the marathon, saying it offers Uganda an opportunity to showcase its tourism potential while strengthening international relations.
Mugerwa said the Ministry, together with Uganda’s diplomatic missions abroad, was mobilising participation from the diplomatic community and international runners.
He invited diplomats and foreign visitors to take part in the race and experience Uganda beyond Kampala, including its hospitality and natural attractions.
The Ministry has formally incorporated the marathon into its sports diplomacy programme. Uganda’s Embassy in Addis Ababa, for example, held a promotional run in July that attracted more than 500 Ethiopian runners, tourism stakeholders, media personalities and members of the diplomatic community.
The marathon’s international profile has grown significantly since its launch. Organiser Amos Wekesa said the event has expanded from about 800 participants in 2022 to an internationally recognised race.
The 2025 edition attracted more than 6,000 runners from over 36 countries, according to organisers.
The 2026 race is expected to draw an even larger field. Government announced a Shs3.7 billion allocation through the National Council of Sports to support the marathon’s expansion, with organisers targeting thousands of participants from Uganda and abroad.
The marathon has also achieved a major international milestone. In February, it was awarded World Athletics Label Road Race status, becoming Uganda’s first marathon to receive the designation and only the third such race in East Africa.
The official race website confirms that this year’s event will take place on August 22 in Kasese. The 42-kilometre course starts at the Equator inside Queen Elizabeth National Park and finishes in Kasese at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Marathon turns focus to clean transport
Alongside the tourism and sports diplomacy campaign, the Kampala activation placed renewed attention on air pollution and sustainable transport.
More than 200 cyclists reportedly rode electric bicycles during the activation to promote clean air and demonstrate the potential of e-mobility as an alternative to conventional transport.
Rwenzori Marathon Team Leader Amos Wekesa and Spiro Uganda Communications Officer Wennie Atim called for greater investment in electric mobility and stronger regulation of vehicle emissions, citing concerns over deteriorating air quality and rising fuel costs.
The organisers argued that the transition to cleaner transport could help reduce carbon emissions while addressing the contribution of road traffic to urban air pollution.
The campaign comes against the backdrop of growing concern over air quality in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, where traffic emissions have emerged as an important environmental and public-health issue.
The Rwenzori Marathon itself has incorporated environmental awareness into its broader mission. Organisers describe the event as a social enterprise intended not only to promote sport and tourism but also to raise awareness about climate change, particularly the melting of the Rwenzori glaciers.
From sporting event to tourism engine
The marathon has increasingly been positioned as an economic and tourism event rather than simply an athletics competition.
Organisers say the race has stimulated demand for accommodation, transport, restaurants and other services in Kasese while giving local athletes an opportunity to compete on an internationally recognised course.
The marathon’s official website says the event has helped draw Ugandans and international visitors to Kasese, many of whom combine participation in the race with visits to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains and other attractions in the region.
The 2026 event will feature several race categories, including the 42km Equator Marathon, 21km Kilembe Half Marathon, 10km race and 5km Vibes Run.
With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs using its diplomatic network to mobilise international participation, organisers hope the fifth edition will further position the Rwenzori Marathon as a vehicle for tourism, sports diplomacy, environmental awareness and local economic development.
The race will take place in Kasese on August 22, 2026.
