By Our Reporter
The MTN Kampala Marathon is set to kick off this Sunday, 13th November with the wheelchair race.
Unlike the previous (2019) Marathon that featured the wheelchair race on the same day as the other races, this year, a special date was set for the wheelchair race as was the norm in the earlier marathons, to give the wheelchair race prominence and the recognition that it deserves.
According to Somdev Sen, the MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, the MTN Kampala Marathon has for many years led the way in promoting, endorsing, and showcasing the very best wheelchair race in the country.
The total prize pot of Ugx.11,000,000 has been prepared for the wheelchair race winners across both the men’s and women’s categories. Each of the top 3 finishers in the men’s and women’s races will receive a portion of this total; The first-position winners shall each walk away with Ugx.3,000,000/= while the second and third-place finishers shall pocket Ugx.1,500,000/= and Ugx.1,000,000/= respectively for both men and women.
“We have had a good number of wheelchair participants register and pick up their kit for the wheelchair race which has always been a part of the MTN Kampala Marathon. Registration for all the Marathon race categories is still open and the kit pick-up is also ongoing. I urge everyone to register and participate in this year’s marathon to save more babies and mothers,” Somdev said.
Proceeds from this year’s Marathon shall be used to upgrade maternal and newborn services in four selected health facilities across the country. The beneficiary health facilities include Kisenyi and Kawaala health facilities in the suburbs of Kampala plus those in Kachumbala (Teso sub-region) and Kabong (Karamoja sub-region).
The other races of the MTN Kampala Marathon, including the full marathon (42Km), half marathon (21Km), 10Km race and 5Km fun run will be held on Sunday, 20th November starting at the Kololo independence grounds.