Independence Marathon raises funds for maternal healthcare

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Elite runners, recreational athletes, corporate teams, families and community members gathered at Metroplex Shopping Mall in Naalya for the second Independence Marathon.

The marathon was held on Sunday (October 4) ahead of Uganda’s Independence Day celebrations on October 9, which feature parades, cultural performances and speeches marking the country’s journey of self-determination, unity and democracy.

About 3,000 participants, including recreational runners, students from Makerere University and Lugoba High School, and members of the public, took part in the marathon to support efforts to reduce birth-related haemorrhage and improve maternal health services at Mengo Hospital.

Proceeds from the event, themed “Save a Mother”, will support the establishment of a modern cold storage facility at the Mengo Rotary Blood Bank, increasing its capacity to process, preserve and store blood for mothers experiencing childbirth complications, accident victims and other patients requiring transfusions.

This year’s marathon featured 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races and became the first edition of the Independence Marathon to use the Kampala Northern Bypass. The 42km route ran from Namboole to Busega and back.

Brian Ategeka won the 42km race in 02:19:51, followed by Solomon Tumwesigye in 02:36:08 and Evas Nasasira in 02:56:05.

In the 21km race, Albert Okumu finished first in 01:09:25, followed by Roline Atumanye in 01:15:57 and Innocent Iraguha in 01:20:16.

Gabriel Nyangabyaki was the fastest in the 10km race in 00:38:59, ahead of Connel Cheptoek in 00:39:16 and Joel Olinga in 00:39:20.

Chief runner Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, said the marathon demonstrated how sport can mobilise communities and resources around critical public health priorities, particularly maternal health.

She encouraged Ugandans who did not participate in the marathon to support the cause by contributing to the maternal health fundraising initiative through FlexiPay 189200 or Stanbic Bank account 903001893749.

“Saving a mother requires all of us to play our part. Events such as the Independence Marathon bring the public together around a cause that directly affects families and communities.

Every contribution towards strengthening maternal healthcare can make the difference between life and death,” Atwine said.

Independence Marathon organiser Robert Kabushenga thanked participants, sponsors and well-wishers for turning up in large numbers, describing the event as a platform that brings together fitness, patriotism and philanthropy.

“The Independence Marathon is more than a race. It is a movement that brings together healthy living, national pride, and giving back to the community. Every person who registers, runs, or walks is contributing towards saving the lives of mothers across Uganda,” Kabushenga said.

He said the run was organised with two main objectives: to create a running experience like no other that has ever been in Kampala and to support maternal health.

“Make sure the runners are safe so that we can build a marathon for Kampala city. That's our aim. And I'm sure we have proved that it's possible to close the road and runners can enjoy themselves, be safe and be supported,” Kabushenga added.

“But most importantly, the cause that we're pushing is to focus on mothers who die during childbirth. And the biggest cause of death during childbirth is bleeding, so we wanted to focus on that as we support Mengo Hospital. “We've already secured an agreement with the Ministry of Works for future road closures.”

“At Stanbic, we believe that Uganda is our home and we drive her growth. Supporting the Independence Marathon is one way of contributing to healthier communities and addressing challenges that have a direct impact on the lives of Ugandans. Saving mothers is a cause that requires collective action, and we are proud to be part of this journey,” Kalifungwa said.

He said postpartum haemorrhage remained a major concern in maternal health, making reliable access to adequate blood supplies and storage facilities critical.

“Safe motherhood is one of Stanbic’s key impact areas because no woman should lose her life while giving life. Through this partnership, we are encouraging Ugandans to donate blood and contribute towards strengthening blood storage infrastructure that will ultimately save mothers’ lives,” he said.

The marathon is part of Stanbic’s broader social impact initiatives as the bank marks 35 years of driving Uganda’s growth, reinforcing its commitment to working with communities to address pressing social challenges.

For participants, the event offered an opportunity to combine personal fitness with a cause that directly affects families across the country.

Carol Mutesi, one of the participants, said the maternal health cause gave the marathon added significance.

“I came to run, but I also came because of the cause behind this marathon. Knowing that my participation can contribute towards better blood storage and ultimately help save a mother’s life makes this more meaningful than an ordinary race,” Mutesi said.

Waldah Atheena of TMR Hospital encouraged Ugandans to become regular voluntary blood donors, noting that blood donation can save multiple lives while helping maintain adequate blood stocks for emergency medical care.

The Independence Marathon, held this year with support from Stanbic Bank, TMR Hospital, UAP Old Mutual, Nivana Water and the Ministry of Health, is expected to continue growing as an annual event ahead of Uganda’s Independence celebrations, combining sport, patriotism and community giving to support critical healthcare needs.