Hundreds of participants took part in a marathon organised on Saturday by the alumni of Main Street Primary School in Jinja City aimed at purchasing iron sheets to re-roof classrooms that still have asbestos on their roofs.

The “No Asbestos” marathon and walk organized by old boys of the school led by Meddie Mbentyo was also graced by Jinja South East Member of Parliament, Nathan Igeme Nabeta who was joined by other leaders and Busoga Kingdom officials.

Before the flag-off, participants engaged in a workout session led by instructors from Galaxy Gym in Jinja.

According to Mbentyo, the chairperson organising committee of the marathon, the race categories were 5 km and a walk. The marathon was flagged off from Main Street Primary School in Jinja City by Busoga Kingdom’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Owek. Joan Machora Kitto. 

Mbentyo said the route for the 5 km run started from Main Street, Gokhale East, Eng. Zikusooka Way, Obote Way, Narambhai East and West roads, Nile Avenue, School lane, Gokhale West Road, and back to Main Street Primary School.

“Government of Uganda banned the use of asbestos in roofing classrooms and for Main Street Primary School’s case where some classrooms still have an asbestos roof, we are going to buy iron sheets and re-roof them and that is why we organized the marathon to raise funds to do this work and we hope to role out this initiative in other schools with asbestos roofs,” Mbentyo said adding the aim is also to continue preventing cancer. 

Mbentyo appreciated the old boys and girls of Main Street Primary School for participating in the marathon and thanked companies and individual well-wishers who sponsored the event. 

He revealed that the Office of the Prime Minister will also donate some iron sheets to the school after a verification exercise. 

He said proceeds from the marathon will be used to buy timber and paint to give a facelift to the school.  

The Jinja South East Member of Parliament, Nathan Igeme Nabeta, revealed that he requested for an ICT block for the school adding that the request is in the Ministry of Education and promised to follow up with the Minister. 

“I pledge my support for this initiative of re-roofing some of the classes at Main Street Primary School and I will reach out to the headmistress of the school,” Igeme said. 

Igeme said that since he is the chairperson of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee of Parliament, he has the task of visiting all primary schools to initiate a campaign for protecting the environment. 

“I request that we work together with some organisations to see that we collect this garbage and separate plastic from biodegradable, we can even recycle the plastics and sustain it,” Igeme said adding that they can make manure from biodegradable garbage and it is a project they need to initiate in schools.