By Our Reporter
NSSF Kampala 7 Hills Hash Run which has been launched for the 5th edition aims to raise Ugx 700 Million which will go towards renovating select public schools.
Announcing the Run at Mbuya Primary school, Richard Byarugaba, the NSSF Managing Director told journalists that the Fund is responding to a challenge every year to contribute to the wellbeing of the underprivileged communities.
“Most of the underprivileged children in Kampala attend these KCCA public schools so it is befitting that our intervention in Education goes towards improvement of learning conditions in these schools. There is no greater impact you can make on a child or community than through education,” he said.
He also added that in addition to KCCA public schools, proceeds from the Run will also benefit 2 other schools in East and Northern Uganda.
KCCA Executive Director Eng. Andrew Kitaka said that partnerships with institutions such as NSSF have gone along in supplementing Government efforts to improve learning conditions in schools.
“When we started this partnership with NSSF, our target was to replace all asbestos roofs in Kampala public primary schools. We are glad that we are almost at the tail end of this endeavor. However, we also realise that some structures in a very bad shape. That is why we propose to use some of the proceeds to renovate such structures,” he said.
The schools earmarked to benefit from the proceeds are Munyonyo Primary School, St Paul Nsambya in Kampala, and Adwari Primary School in Otuke District and Pioneer Primary School in Soroti.
Byarugaba called upon individual runners to sign up in large numbers to participate in this run, not only because it is for a noble cause but also an exciting and challenging race that runners will enjoy.
“We need to have over 5000 individual runners and participation from over 50 corporate companies if we are to realise our ambitious target this year. Corporate and group participation attracts very competitive packages while individual runners can register at only UGX 25,000,” he said.
Individuals can pay using mobile money through a short code *217*277#.
Slated for March 29th, the run will commence at Pearl of Africa Primary School in Nsambya. The route traverses the original hills of Kampala namely, Nsambya Nakasero, Kibuli, Old Kampala, Namirembe, Rubaga, and Lubiri and will cover a distance of 21km.
6 schools have so far benefited from the past editions. These include Nakivubo Settlement, Makerere University and St. Ponsiano Kyamula. Works are also scheduled to begin at Mbuya Primary school, St. Paul Nsambya, and Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped.