Entebbe marathon to support UPE schools

Mar 26, 2019

The run kicks off at Entebbe botanical gardens on Saturday

Commissioning of Nakiwogo Primary School water project

The third edition of Entebbe Marathon, will be held on March 30 (this Saturday). It will bring enthusiastic professionals and novice runners to one platform. It will be a definition of the true spirit of humanity, sportsmanship as well as generation of awareness for education and fitness for all. It will start at 6:30am at Entebbe Botanical Gardens. The marathon is officially sponsored by the Uganda Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (UCECC).

The aim of the marathon is to boost the country's education system which has a number of setbacks, especially for schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. We look towards contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of "Education for all" and an attempt to ensure a comfortable studying environment.

We consider the structure of the classrooms and the sanitation facilities as these have forced many girls drop out of school. We also pay attention to water for hygiene. Aim of the marathon Proceeds from the Saturday marathon will be used to renovate specific schools with dilapidated structures. The renovation will consist of refurbishing the classrooms, administration blocks.

Each beneficiary school will be given a computer set and have its latrines renovated. Participants will include people from corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations, government institutions, civil servants, parents, students, faith-based organisations, athletes, security organs and diplomats. By this, we believe, the initiative will increase the number school-going children through the improvement of the study environment. Last year's marathon organised on March 24, under the theme, Run for improvement of Universal Primary Education Schools, was a success having registered over 7,000 participants in the 42km, 21km and 10km categories. The winners in the 42km and 21km categories participated in the Wuhan International Marathon organised in Wuhan city China.

 

t heresa rimary chool in ntebbe akiso district after renovation by the hinese nterprise hamber of ommerceSt. Theresa Primary School in Entebbe, Wakiso district after renovation by the Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce

 

A total of sh125m was raised for 15 public schools in Entebbe. Of this, sh80m was cash and non-cash pledges of sh45m. Previous sponsors of the marathon were China Construction and Communication Company, African Gold Refinery, Sinocham, Lake Victoria Hotel, Victoria Mall, Stanbic Bank, Movit Products Limited, Riham, Civil Aviation Authority, Airserv Ltd, Entebbe Handling Services, & Chinese Embassy. Last year's marathon was flagged off by the Chinese Ambassador with the representative of the Minister of State for Sports being the chief runner.

Why run? Education is rewarding when it gives back to the community that funds it. If this young generation studies in a safer environment, they will like what they are studying and aim to achieve more in life. The students will be more influential in life and will aim at educating their children too, and make sure they have a better life. Education cannot be sustainable without social responsibility. The UPE schools are receiving inadequate funding from the Government.

This makes it difficult for them to compete with private schools which have better facilities. We want to reach out to vulnerable children, most of whom attend UPE schools. It is for this reason that UCECC decided to give back to the community.

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