MTN Uganda Extends 2018 Marathon to Regional Towns Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu

MTN Uganda has announced the 2018 edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon introducing routes in three different regions of Uganda. Regional towns of Gulu, Mbale and Mbarara will this year also host the annual sports and charity activity.

The MTN Kampala Marathon will be held on November 25 in Kampala with flagging off at the Kololo Independence grounds.

The Mbale Marathon is scheduled for November 4, the one in Gulu on November 11 while that in Mbarara will take place on November 18.

According to MTN Uganda, this year’s edition of the marathon will have a new and better route for runners. The telco also said the new route will be a lot more secure for marathoners against errant road users.

The Mbale marathon will feature a 10km race and a 21km half marathon while the Gulu and Mbarara road races will feature a 10km race only.

The marathon in Kampala will feature four race categories of 5kms (family run), 10kms, 21kms, and 42kms.

Proceeds from this year’s Marathon will go towards improving maternal health in Uganda.

During the unveiling of the marathon program to the press on Thursday, Anthony Katamba, the General Manager Corporate Services at MTN Uganda, said that maternal health continues to be an area that requires improvement in terms of access and facilities.

“This year, maternal health will be the theme, but the runners will vote on the projects they want the proceeds to go to,” Anthony Katamba said.

“We have a crisis in Bududa, if some of the money we collect from the MTN Marathon can be used to help, it will also be a good thing,” he added.

Katamba revealed that the intention of taking the marathon regional is to take the running spirit national and also include more people.

Last year MTN collected Shs 600 million from the marathon which went towards replacing asbestos roofing of Nakasero Primary School and Improving maternal health in Kiswa and Kamaboga health centres.

Registration for the marathon will cost Shs 25,000 or Shs 23,000 payable through the MTN MoMo platform.

Daniel Ogong, the Head of Marketing and Communications Stanbic Bank said; “We are extremely proud to be partnering with MTN once again in what is truly a world class event that attracts both elite athletes and fun runners from across the country and the globe”.

Partnering companies such as Huawei and Coca Cola have already donated Shs 250m and Shs 150m respectively towards the marathon.