2008 MTN Kampala International Marathon Charity

The 5th edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon will take place on November 23rd 2008. In the first three editions, the proceeds from the marathon were donated to Uganda Red Cross towards the Mama Bag Appeal.

The 20 year civil war in Northern Uganda greatly undermined the public health infrastructure within the region. The Mama Bag Appeal initiative was therefore set up to provide expectant mothers living in Internally Displaced Peoples Camps (IDPs) with the basic necessities for a safe delivery. Expectant mothers were chosen because they were the most vulnerable. Over 8500 expectant mothers in Northern Uganda benefited from the proceeds of the marathon that totaled to 125 million Uganda shillings for the three years.

In 2007, peace slowly returned to the region, with many of the IDPs encouraged to go back to their homes and resettle into a normal life. The MTN Kampala Marathon donated 59 million shillings to the purchasing of a return kit to be given to families from katakwi resettling home from IDP camps. With this money, a total of 1180 kits were distributed to these families. A return kit includes farming implements, seeds, a mosquito net, among many other things.

This year, proceeds from the MTN Kampala Marathon will once again go towards purchasing return kits for families resettling in their homes within the areas of Karamoja, Kitgum, Amuria and Katakwi. The Marathon hopes to be able to purchase 2000 return kits, the cost of which is estimated at 100 million.

We cannot reverse history, but we can shape the future. Togteher we can make a difference.

MTN Kampala Marathon 2008. Run for fun, Run for life.

The marathon legend

In 490 BC, the Greeks defeated the Persians in fierce battle at a place called Marathon; In order to deliver the news of the great victory they sent a runner Pheidippides to Athens to announce the victory. He ran over a distance of roughly 42.83 Km, shortly upon arrival and delivering the good news, “Rejoice! We conquer,” he dropped dead.

Subsequently, when the first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, a race was organised over the same course that Pheidippides used and thus named “The Marathon race”.

The early Olympic Games ran the Marathon over varying distances and it wasn’t till the Paris Summer games of 1924, that the standard distance of 42.195 Km was adopted and used to date.

Marathons in Uganda

The earliest marathon races held in Uganda were run in the 1920s and were organized by Officers of the Kings African Rifles in order to improve the fitness levels of the soldiers, as a result of this one of the first Ugandan Marathon routes ran between Kampala and Bombo Military Barracks.

In the subsequent years in the 50’s and 60’s when running became a popular and professional sport periodic national events began to take root and flourish. Marathons were held in Jinja, Entebbe , Lira, Arua, Mbarara and Moroto.

Unfortunately in the turbulent years from 1972 to 1987 when there was widespread persecution and disorder, organising marathons let alone any form of road-race became an impossibility.

It wasn’t till the late 80’s and the early 90’s when relative peace returned to the country that competitive road races including Marathons were organized once again. However having spent such a long period without hosting regular marathons. Local organizers faced great challenges, Sponsors were skeptical, participants limited in number and the general public uninterested.

Still through the efforts of a few committed individuals and the support of athletics officials a sprinkling of events were held in the late 80 to mid 90’s most notable amongst these was the 1991 British Airways Marathon which was the first comprehensively organized and sponsored Kampala Marathon.

In the subsequent years the Marathon reappeared as an event in the UAAF national athletics calendar both as a full 42 km event and a half marathon, however due to a lack of funds and the intensive nature of a marathon, the races were often cancelled or held under the most Spartan of conditions.

In 2004 MTN Uganda decided to widen its sports sponsorship programme. Athletics was one of the sports chosen; this was due to its wide reaching appeal and the abundance of natural running talent available. In choosing an event that would signify the intent that MTN had for athletics a decision was taken to sponsor an Inaugural Kampala Marathon. The response to this event surpassed all expectations and the inaugural MTN Kampala Marathon in 2004 drew over 1264 participants both local and international.

The actual race was won by local track star Joseph Nsubuga (fittingly a soldier) who clocked a winning time of 2:18:21 while the women’s race was won by Margaret Nakintu in a time of 3:07:17. These times though considered slow by international standards must be considered in their context, the route in Kampala “the city of seven hills” is one of the most challenging in the world.

The second edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon was dominated by Kenyans the Men’s race was won by Busienei Wilson Kipkemei who led a Kenyan clean sweep of the first three places, the time itself was disappointingly slow 2 hours 31 minutes 31 seconds, well below the previous years best set by Joseph Nsubuga.

The women’s race once again confirmed the dominance of Margeret Nakinti on the Ugandan women’s marathon scene she successfully defended her title in a time of 2:48:18. Unfortunately she will not be able to defend her title in 2006 having won the event twice and long dominated the local distance running scene she secured a sports scholarship and is now permanently based in the US.