Cancer Run attracts 30,000, raises sh1.1bn

Construction of the bunker for the Linear Accelerator at the Rotary-Centenary Bank Cancer Ward at Nsambya Hospital will start in October.

Past District Governor and Chair of the Uganda Rotary Cancer Programme Stephen Mwanje made the pronouncement after this year's Centenary Bank Rotary Cancer Run at Kololo.

Mwanje said sh1.1bn had been raised from this year's event which has had over 30,000 people from 32 different towns of Uganda participating. A net amount of sh740m will go towards the construction of the linear accelerator

"We must give cancer a run and we must kick it out of Uganda, I would like to thank all of you who have made it possible; this is the biggest rotary event anywhere in the world and it is a record for the country," Mwanje said.

Another Rotarian and Vice President of Uganda Edward Ssekandi hailed all participants and thanked the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga for mobilizing members of parliament to contribute towards the run.

"I want to thank all of you for responding to our call to raise money. I want to thank the speaker for mobilizing MPs to contribute to this cause. I'm proud of my colleagues whose contribution will save lives," Ssekandi remarked.

"I want to thank the organisers the runners for making this day the biggest rotary charity run in the world. I want to thank all the runners for their contribution which is going to make a difference," Ssekandi stated.

Centenary Bank MD Fabian Kasi said they were looking forward to continue their engagement with the organisers in the annual event.

Elijah Okupa who spoke on behalf of the parliamentarians said they were devoted to the cancer fight and that parliament had contributed sh400m to the cause before calling on other Ugandans to be at the forefront of fighting cancer in the country.

Chief runner Centenary Bank Executive Director Dr. Simon Kagugube also thanked the runners for their contribution and hailed them for not waiting for government to avail all the medical equipment in the country still and said there was still a big challenge in getting all the equipment that was needed in the cancer fight.

In Arua

In Soroti

Soroti district chairperson George Micheal Egunyu flagging off the runners at Soroti Muncipal playground. Photo by Gabriel Esiku