MTN Uganda is expected to raise 400 million Uganda Shillings from the tenth edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon that is slated for November 24th at the Kololo Independence Airstrip.
The proceeds for this year’s edition are expected to go to towards the provision of water for the people of Karamoja region in Kotido District.
Announcing the theme for this year, the MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer Mazen Mroue said, “This year all Ugandans are called upon to register and run for a noble cause under the theme aptly dubbed- ‘Run for Water’. Whether you register to run for fun, or for fitness, you have an opportunity to contribute positively to someone’s life. With just one drop, you can change someone’s life”.
Over the last 10 years, 100,000 entrants have participated in the company’s annual marathon and have raised close to 1 billion shillings 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.
“This year, once again MTN has partnered with some key sponsors including; the Vision Group, Huawei, Rwenzori, Stanbic and last but not least, the Uganda Athletics Federation that has been a key partner since inception”, said Ernst Fonternel.
Uganda Athletics Federation is expecting elite athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania and Rwanda so far 8 athletes have been given an appearance fee. The athletes body has also stated they will be a strick doping test after the end of each race with all the winners undergoing a dope test.
Participation in the MTN Kampala Marathon has been steadily growing in terms of participation numbers. People run in the marathon for a number of reasons; to fulfil a personal sense of achievement but also to contribute towards a worthy cause.
In 2011, MTN announced that the focus of the Corporate Social Responsibility activities from the Marathon proceeds for the next five years would be towards the provision of clean and safe water to different communities in Uganda.
The Marathon raised Ushs 230 million towards the provision of clean and safe water to for the people of Amuria in 2011, in partnership with WaterAid as an implementing partner. Amuria was selected as one of the most remote areas with a definite need for access to clean and safe water.
Last year, all proceeds raised from the MTN Marathon of UShs 320 million went towards the provision of clean and safe water to the people of Bududa that were settled in Kiryandongo.
Speaking at the press conference, MTN Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer-Mazen Mroué said, “At MTN, we have over the years dedicated ourselves to the cause of investing in the community and partnering with the Government of Uganda as development partners to ensure a sustainable contribution to improving the lives of our fellow Ugandans that may be less privileged. We have done this through many avenues, but one of my personal favourite is the MTN Kampala Marathon of which the 2013 edition will be the 10th year running”.
This will be achieved through an implementing partner, Water Aid Uganda that will be tasked with ensuring that the proceeds are well utilized in providing safe and clean water for the people of Karamoja.
During the event, Water Aid applauded MTN Uganda and the people of Uganda for providing them the opportunity to be a part of a cause that will change the lives of Ugandans forever.