Event: 1st Empuumo Marathon
Date: Sunday, 27th October 2024
Start & Finish: Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara City
Categories: 5KM, 10KM, 21KM
Kit Fee: Ug.Shs 20,000
Theme: “Community action to end HIV/AIDS by 2030”
Preparations for a tranquil and successful Empuumo Marathon on Saturday, 27th October 2024 are underway,
This marathon is intended to intense the brave fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge in South Western Uganda, particularly in the Ankole and Kigezi sub regions.
The marathon will ride along the theme “Community Action to end HIV/AIDS by 2030”.
Empuumo is a dialect derived from the Runyankore to mean “Energy”, symbolizing the diligent effort and hope for an HIV-free future.
The event is organized by Initiative for better Health (IBH), a non-profit organization primed to improve the health and economic security of young people and women in Uganda through mobilization, skilling, linkages and advocacy.
The Empuumo Marathon 2024 is part of the response by IBH and its partners, you as an individual or Institution or as a community to support the scale-up of HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, treatment and eventually end of HIV/AIDS infections in adolescent girls and women in the region thereby contributing to ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.
John Aturinde Kateba, the Executive Director of Initiative for Better Health (IBH)
Through this marathon, it is a strategy to mobilize the community, raise stakeholder and population efforts, rally resources and energies to end HIV/AIDS by 20230.
At least 20,000 runners and walkers, aged 18 years and above are targeted.
Funding for the Marathon
The Empuumo marathon targets private funding from well-wishers (Individual Donors, Development partners, Corporate Organizations, Private sector etc), through purchase of marathon kits, cash donations, in kind donations, among others.
To this end this far, there is a brave call for sponsors and partners to support this noble cause.
Sponsorships have so far come Nation media group, Vision group through TV west and radio west, global coaches, Westlake water (500 cartons of hydration water), Crown Beverages (400 cartons of water, tents and 50 cartons of soda), Yaket water (500 cartons of water and 200 cartons of Yaket juice).
CEO West Lake Water and the ED for initiative for Better Health receiving water sponsorship
Planned activities:
The Empuumo marathon runners and walkers will have options of 5KM, 10 KM and 21KM.
At the start and finishing venue, there are a series of activities planned.
There will be voluntary HIV testing and counseling services (HCT), safe male circumcision (SMC) for HIV prevention, HIV awareness and prevention information and commodities, blood donation, award ceremony and prize giving as well as cultural performances and entertainment (music, dance, and drama).
Blood donationThe First Lady Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni is expected to be the chief runner of the 1st Empuumo Marathon
Long-list of invited dignatries:
The first lady, Mama Janet Kataha Museveni, who is also the Minister of Education and Sports is expected to be the chief Runner.
Other dignitaries invited include; Hon. Minister Anifa Kawoya (Minister of State for Health in Charge of General Duties), Hon. Mwine Mpaka (Member of Parliament for Mbarara City South), Hon. Rosette C. Mutambi Kajungu Former Woman Member of Parliament Mbarara district and Chairperson Empuumo Marathon, Hon. Edson Rugumayo (Youth MP- Western Region), Dr. Nelson Musoba, Director General, Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Michael Etukoit, Executive Director TASO Uganda, Mr. Robert Kwesiga – Secretary General Uganda Red Cross Society, Dr. Lydia Mungerera – HIV/AIDS Activist/ Executive Director Mama’s club, Wahid Mohammed (General secretary Indian Association Uganda), Falguni Patel(Chairperson Women Indian Association), Asan Kasingye – Retired AIGP Uganda Police and John Aturinde Kateba – Executive Director IBH, among others.
Update on the upcoming 2024 Empuumo marathon | Credit: TV West
Kits fee is fixed at Ug.Shs 20,000. The kits can be secured at Global coaches offices bus park , Mbarara central market, Musa Kats events offices, Olive pharmacy, Green park stadium , IBH offices in Mbarara, Bishop Stuart university Guild offices and Mbarara university of science and technology guild offices
In Kampala, tickets are available at IBH Head office Grace Road Namirembe, next to the Mengo SS small gate.
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