Akright Run reaffirms the importance of physical fitness

Robert Ssebugwawo, a fitness and preventive health expert from the Parliament of Uganda, has encouraged the residents of Akright Housing Estate to prioritize their health.

Ssebugwawo was addressing the residents after their third edition of the Akright Run held in the estate on Saturday. Apart from promoting healthy lifestyles among the residents, different causes are attached to the annual runs also supported by different corporate companies.

He promised to introduce models that will help the children, their parents, and the entire community to overcome non-communicable diseases, which most of the time are self-inflicted because of lack of exercise, eating unhealthy foods, lack of enough sleep, and not going for regular medical checkups.

“However much money you have, if you’re not healthy, you won’t be productive, you won’t enjoy your life, and you’ll never fulfill your dreams,” Ssebugwawo said.

Robert Ssebugwawo (right) flanked by Anthony Tenywa after their annual run in Akright Estates, May 10, 2025. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 “I will use my experience and wisdom and everything within my abilities to ensure this community lives a healthier and happier, productive, enjoyable, and long lifestyle from now on. The way you monitor your bank balances is the same way you should monitor your health so that you can live happier, more productive, more enjoyable, and longer lives,” he advised.

He promised to develop a concept for the residents that will ensure they remain fit and healthy because ‘health is wealth’.

Anthony Tenywa, the president of Akright Estates, expressed his happiness with the increasing participation in the running event, indicating a growing interest among the community. He mentioned that each run is associated with a specific community cause; this time, the focus is on improving the infrastructure, particularly the roads and drainage systems that are currently in poor condition. Previous runs highlighted issues such as road safety and city lighting, with the proceeds from those events being directed towards addressing those specific problems.

“As a community, we decided to mobilise resources ourselves selves to work on this declining infrastructure. And this is the first of the efforts we are carrying out to restore the status of our road infrastructure,” Tenywa stated.

“A lot of people here in Akright are health freaks and run on these roads, but because of the potholes and poor drainage, it was becoming difficult for people to continuously walk or run on the streets so that they could improve their health.

“So, by fixing the roads, we are going to see more numbers on the roads, like it has been every single morning and evening,” he noted.

He said many other individuals and corporate companies had also come out to support the run because they know they are pushing for road safety.

The top three runners in each of the different age category received gold, silver, and bronze medals.