Overview:
The State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang announced 1-million-dollar boost to the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon to help in the prize money department which will attract more elite runners.
From humble beginnings, the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon has continued to attain prominence, relevance and international fame.
With only 800 runners 5 years ago, the run now has nearly 10,000 runners from over 50 countries across the world.
Before the fifth edition later this year, the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon is now a World Athletics Label Road Race.
The development was confirmed during the official launch of the 2026 edition at Sheraton Kampala Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday, 25th February 2026.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa joined the high-profile dignitaries at the launch, also attended by the State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang, State Minister for Tourism Hon. Martin Muggara, UCC boss Nyombi Tembo, Ambrose Tashobya (Chairperson for National Council of Sports), sponsors representatives, among others.
“Uganda joins a very small group of African marathons recognized at global standard. The Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon has officially earned World Athletics Label Road Status, making it the 7th in Africa and the only one in East Africa. This is putting Kasese and Uganda on the global map,” Amos Wekesa, the Team lead at Equator Heights, the main organiser of this marathon.
Rt. Hon Tayebwa spoke highly of the sports tourism element around which the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon is hinged.
He vowed to invest immensely in the security and infrastructure dockets, particularly the Kasese International Airport.
“I am particularly impressed by the organisation of the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon that has lured many runners to the country. We promise as Government to continue supporting this marathon,” Rt. Hon. Tayebwa remarked.
Ogwang announced a $1 million boost to this marathon to help in the prize money department, which will attract more elite runners.
“I have been part and parcel of the Tusker Mt Rwenzori Marathon since its inception. The growth has been organic. We are investing 1 million dollars to help with the prize money. This will attract the best international athletes,” Ogwang announced.
Already this year alone, the RWENZORI MARATHON 2026 has 3 major wins. First, it is officially a world athletics label road race.
It is also an official qualifier for the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, as well as an official qualifier for two oceans marathon.
“We have a new dream already in our heads for 2027, God willing,” Wekesa hinted.
The Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon has heightened global and government engagement, eco-conscious operations, vibrant race events, and major impacts on local economic and tourism horizons in Kasese and Uganda as a country.