- Mbarara is the third leg of the 2018 MTN Marathon Season
- 478 participants had registered in one day
- There will be a 5km and 10km run around Mbarara
- Registration for Mbarara open until Saturday 17th November
Mbarara: The third and last leg of the regional MTN Marathon 2018 was this morning launched in Mbarara at a press conference held at the Lake View Hotel. After successful showings in Mbale (Eastern Uganda) and Gulu (Northern Uganda), the Western Region is expected to show up in large numbers, this is according to Valery Okecho, Manager Corporate Communications at MTN Uganda:
“Within one day, we had 478 participants registered to take part in the Mbarara Run; we look forward to even more registering. MTN Uganda is excited about the regional runs because we are supporting the efforts of the Uganda Athletics Federation in developing local talent in readiness for international success on the race tracks” said Valery Okecho.
He also reiterated that the proceeds of the run will go towards maternal health support in Mbarara, just like the case for Gulu and Mbale runs. OC Tibesigwa Swizin and ASP Namanya Doreen, representing Uganda Police, pledged their support on behalf of the force in a joint statement:
“We shall deploy our units in more than 15 key points around the route to provide event security and ensure safety of the runners. Uganda Police has given the organisers a go ahead to host the Mbarara Run and we shall be there to ensure maintenance of law and order – before, during and after the event”
Just like in the Mbale and Gulu runs, the Police Athletics Club will also take part in the Mbarara Run as the force continues its pursuit of medals and improved finishing timings. Speaking on behalf of the Uganda Athletics Federation, Daniel Tamwesigire, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the Mbarara Run stated that all arrangements had been finalised to ensure a successful run:
“We have prepared in advance for the run and allocated a team of twenty (20) Marshalls who will work with a large number of volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly. We thank MTN Uganda Foundation for actively supporting athletics development over the last fourteen years; in fact they were among the first sponsors of athletics in Uganda!” said Daniel Tamwesigire.
Present at the press conference were MTN Marathon partners and sponsors Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (Ssendi Umar Kabanda, Regional Sales Manager Rwenzori Water), Stanbic Bank (Twesigye Adrine Bright, Mbarara Branch Manager), Huawei Uganda (Allan Kyobe, Public Relations Manager), Vision Group and SPEDAG.
The Mbarara Run will take place on Sunday 18th November 2018 and runners will set off from the Mbarara Golf Course grounds.