Airtel Uganda has, once again, come on board as a platinum sponsor for the 2017 Kabaka Run as part of their three-year partnership with the Buganda Kingdom to sponsor four of the kingdom’s most important activities; the Kabaka’s birthday Run, Kabaka’s birthday celebration, the Kabaka’s coronation as well as Eid El Fitri.
During the press conference held this morning at the Kingdom offices in Mengo, the Katikkiro of Buganda Owek. Charles Peter Mayigga also announced that for the next three years, emphasis will be placed on sickle cell awareness under the theme Fight Against Sickle Cells. This cause has brought new strategic partners on board which include the Ministry of Health in the Central Government and Uganda Sickle Cell Foundation – an NGO with an aim of raising sickle cell awareness in the country.
According to the Ministry of Health over 25,000 babies are born each year with sickle cell disease and over 80% die before their 5 th birthday contributing to 15% infant mortality, 13.3% of the total population have Sickle cell traits and 21% are within the Buganda region, It’s against this background that the Kingdom has made a decision to dedicate this run to this cause and create awareness.
Speaking at the press conference, Airtel Uganda Managing Director Mr. Anwar Soussa commended the Buganda Kingdom for always coming up with causes and activities that positively impact Ugandans.
“At Airtel Uganda, we pride ourselves on creating impactful partnerships which ultimately benefit the community we work in. This is the reason as to why we are very proud to partner with the Buganda Kingdom every year in order to make a difference, not just here in Buganda but in the entire country,” he said.
Commenting about the new theme, Soussa noted that “By sponsoring such a noble cause, we are hopeful that we shall educate Ugandans about sickle cells and increase on the funds to enable proper treatment of patients and research into how best we can contain it.”
The run which will be held on the 9th April 2017 will be flagged off in Lubiri Mengo by His Majesty the Kabaka; this will have the 5KM, 10KM and 21KM routes.