By Our Reporter
MTN Uganda has launched the 12th edition of the annual Kampala Marathon slated for 22nd of November 2015. Held under the theme ‘Run for Kampala’, this time round the proceeds will go toward building toilets in a number of selected primary schools in Kampala.
Unveiling this year’s edition at Police Children’s School Nsambya on 27th October 2015, MTN’s Chief Executive Officer Brian Gouldie said, “This year, once again MTN is privileged to partner with our key sponsors who have been with us on this journey over the years. These include Vision Group, Huawei, Rwenzori, Stanbic Bank and the Uganda Athletics Federation. We appreciate the fact that participation in the MTN Kampala Marathon has been steadily growing in terms of numbers. People run in the marathon for a number of reasons; to challenge themselves to fulfill a personal sense of achievement but also to contribute towards a worthy cause,” he said.
Gouldie explained following consultations with the main stakeholder institution responsible for Kampala, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), a number of priority projects in the region were identified.
“An exhaustive selection criteria was applied to select deserving low income communities, where the MTN Kampala Marathon intervention would take effect. Besides the construction of the bio latrines, the kids in these schools will be taught about health and safety literacy, including healthy eating, physical exercise and preventive behavior that they can take back and impart in their homes and communities,” he added.
Vision Group’s CEO Robert Kabushenga said, “Vision Group, through our flagship brand New Vision, is proud to be a sponsor of the biggest sporting event of the year. This year we are pleased that once again a worthy cause has been selected. The fact that the money raised this year will be used to provide safe sanitation facilities in Kampala schools allows us to be part of an initiative to give back to our community.”
Rong Xing the Deputy MD Sales at Huawei Technologies Uganda said, “This is the fourth time Huawei is participating in this meaningful event. Kampala is a very beautiful city, secure, clean, hospitable and full of good people. As Huawei, we have been given a good and secure working environment to carry out our operations. It is the more reason we have come out in a big way this year in terms of financial support. We have also provided 1,000 devices to be won by those that register for this year’s marathon.”
On his part, the Managing Director, Stanbic Bank Patrick Mweheire said, “We have consistently provided one of largest corporate entries with our staff from across the country participating. This year we reinforced the partnership with the MTN because we believe in being relevant and active in the communities where we operate. The ultimate goal of the marathon is the reason we keep coming back year after year. We are proud to be associated with an event which every year contributes to the uplifting of our society.”
Onapito Ekomoloit, the Communications Director of Nile Breweries, the holding entity for Rwenzori Bottling Company said, “Water and benefiting communities are two of the Group’s Ten Sustainable Development priorities. Providing clean water to communities is one of our core Corporate Social Investments. We commit to stronger partnerships with MTN Uganda and as always our goal remains to refresh all Ugandans with safe and pure mineral water.”
Over the last 12 years, 140,000 entrants have participated in the company’s annual marathon and raised in excess of Ushs 1.4 billion to help people in less privileged communities. Collections from previous events have been used in a number of projects; in the early years towards the provision of ‘Mama Bags’ to mothers in the Internally Displaced People’s camps in Gulu and most recently to different water and sanitation projects around the country.