Norman Katende
18 September 2007
Kampala — Telecommunications company MTN has sunk sh500m into this year's Kampala International marathon due December 9.
The amount for the fourth edition of the event organised by the local athletics federation, UAF, is sh100m more than what was offered last year. Last year's event cost the company sh400m.
But the company's senior consumer marketing manager Philip Besiimire said that with the introduction of the half-marathon, the actual cost could exceed the stated amount.
Besiimire added that the half-marathon will add to the already existing 10km and marathon races. The 10km race and half-marathon will have corporate and open categories.
"The marathon is becoming more challenging and we are also aiming at make it more entertaining," Besiimire said at the launch of the event in Kampala yesterday.
"The half-marathon will give more competition to people who have gotten used to the 10km race.
"This year's event will be organised to the highest international standards ever."
Participants from Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Rwanda and Burundi are expected to take part in Uganda's biggest event on the Road Running calendar.
Besiimire reaffirmed that the proceeds from the event will go towards Red Cross' Mama Bag and Return kit project.
Most of the sh500m will cater for the over 1000 volunteers, prize money and logistics.
The venue for the marathon start and end has also changed from the traditional Parliament Avenue in the heart of Kampala to Lugogo Bypass near Shoprite.
"We are confident the marathon will attract over 6000 runners. The point at Parliament Avenue is not enough to handle this and that is why we opted for Lugogo."
Red Cross' acting head of corporate fundraising Geoffrey Sserunjogi said the proceeds will benefit expectant mothers in the internally displaced camps.
The kit project distributes seeds and farm tools to the people leaving the camps, to help them start a new life after spending over 20 years in poor conditions in the war ravaged northern Uganda.
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