Overview:
The participants in the 2023 Kyotera women health run hit a record 8300 people, a big increment from 450 during the inaugural edition. The route was slightly adjusted from the normal one.
The 6th edition of the Kyotera women’s health run successfully climaxed on Wednesday, 8th March 2023 at Kasambya playground in Kyotera district.
Among the highlights of this year’s run was the ability to attract the attention of Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) amid the drastic increased number of participants (8300 people).
Uganda Athletics Federation officials led by the vice president Lawrence Kavuma, Abdul Majid (technical) and Henry Mukasa (timing specialist) attended this run.
The trio helped in the redesign of the run route, ensured order and advised in the entire organization of this event that started way back in 2018.
“On two different occasions, the organizers; Dreams of Tropical Youth (DROTY) Uganda invited us but we were fixed. For the 2023 edition, we have come to assess the run. We shall take the report to the executive and possibly consider putting this event on the Uganda Athletics Federation calendar” Kavuma revealed.
The participants in the 2023 Kyotera women health run hit a record 8300 people, a big increment from 450 during the inaugural edition.
The 2023 run was held on Wednesday, March 8 to commemorate the International women’s day with the start and finishing point at the Kasambya playground, adjacent the Kasambya primary school premises and a number of residences.
The theme for the run was “Better life outcomes start with a good education! MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR RURAL YOUTH” with the chief guest as Joselyn Ekochu (Executive Director) at Centre for Women in Governance (CEWIGO).
This run was started in 2018 by DROTY, a youth led Non-profit organization established in 2016 by Arnold Sessazi in commemoration of the international women’s day.
DROTY was started to empower underprivileged rural young people between ages 10 -24 years in Kyotera and Rakai districts situated in the south-western Uganda.
It is important to remember the specific needs and risks to the girls whose dignity and access to the safety and opportunity of an education are being pushed aside by taboos, misconceptions, and lack of proper training and materials to manage menstruation.
Big schools’ number:
The participants came from various schools as Kasambya primary school, St Mary’s Mayanja primary school, Homeland college Kyotera, Nakatogo primary school, St Michael Buyinji primary school, St Joseph Technical school – Kiteredde, St James S.S Kyotera, Kyotera Township primary school, Divine primary school, St Francis Nalubira primary school, Kiteredde Vocational primary school, Kyotera Infant, St Stephen High school Kyotera, Kyotera central, Sacred Heart, St Mark S.S.S, Ndolo primary school, St Imelda, St Ritah Dynamic primary school, among others.
A brass band, various schools’ choirs, musician Maurice Hassa (of the Kaleke Kasome fame) and other upcoming artists entertained the participants and other guests.
There was cancer of the cervix screening, training of making and using reusable sanitary pads, counseling and guidance sessions from the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) among other organizations.
Top performers:
In the run proper, Santos Odongo of Homeland College emerged as the overall winner over 10 KM.
Lillian Naama was outstanding female runner.
For the primary schools; Elvis Kalema (St Mary’s Mayanja) and Lillian Naaama (St Mary’s Mayanja) were the top.
The top three per category received medals and certificates.
There were also rewards for the exceptional individual performers and schools.
Partners:
The run had a number of partners as SAALT, Food Circle, NTV, Spark TV, Kyotera Local Government, BBS Telefaina, Crown Beverages Limited under Nivana water brand, Kalisizo local authorities, Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA), the different schools and other groups.
