For the 17^th time, Vision Group has joined hands with MTN Uganda to sponsor the biggest marathon event in the country, the MTN Kampala Marathon.

Vision Group has injected sh150,000,000 in the event that has not been held for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent ban on sports by the government.

Vision Group’s head of marketing Rogers Anguzu handed over the cheque to Martin Sebuliba, the manager branding and communication at MTN during a function held at the Vision Group head office on Tuesday.

Anguzu said it’s the mandate of Vision Group to join hands with other partners to support the marathon.

On behalf of the Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama, Anguzu said each year, Vision Group works extremely hard to bring awareness and raise money towards improving the livelihood of people in the communities the company operates in underpinned by the mission to generate and distribute content that is valuable and advances society.

“Together we can achieve much more when we pull together our competencies and competitive advantages to tackle such important social challenges. The Vision Group is in this for a long haul, we pledge to continue to work with like-minded partners in the quest to achieve our mission, to generate and distribute content that is valuable and advances society,” read part of the communication from Wanyama.

Sebuliba on behalf of the organizers MTN said Sunday’s marathon shall be flagged off at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds early in the morning.

“We shall hold the event come rain or sunshine,” he said upon receiving the cheque from Anguzu.

He highlighted this year’s theme saying the mission is aimed at raising the standard of four hospitals in the country by improving the standard of maternity services to prevent the rampant mortality rate of newly born babies.

“The Ministry of Health picks the areas to benefit. The aid is in the form of oxygen facilities, incubators, delivery beds and many other things needed for safe motherhood during delivery,” Sebuliba noted.

The facilities set to benefit include Kawaala and Kisenyi health centres in Kampala and Wakiso districts respectively and one in Kaabong in the Karamoja sub-region and Kachumbala in the Teso sub-region.

Vision Group employees take part in the Sukuma Dance in preparation for the MTN Kampala Marathon. Photo by Silvano Kibuuka

Sebuliba has anticipated the run to capture 25,000 participants and urged more people to register online.

Winners shall earn cash prizes in the 5, 10, 20 and 42 km races in an event to be managed by the Uganda Athletics Federation.

After handing over the cheque, a cross-section of Vision Group employees was taken through a Sukuma Dance drill to prepare their bodies for Sunday.