Annual wildlife run to raise money for orphans

 

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

KAMPALA - The money that will be raised from the annual wildlife run slated for February 23, will go to the families that lost their loved ones to poachers.

 

The state minister for tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda, revealed that the money will be used to cater for the scholastic needs for the children of game rangers killed while protecting Uganda's wildlife.

 

"We want to reach out to the families orphaned by the poachers. We want to help those orphans whose fathers died protecting our animals," he told journalists in Kampala on Tuesday.

 

The marathon which will include the full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km), 10km and 5km will start at the Uganda Museum. The bibs for the run are being sold at sh20,000 each while corporate companies will pay sh1m.

 

The chief runner will be the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.

 

The run is among the many activities organised by the ministry as part of preparations for the World Wildlife Day which will be commemorated on March 3. The event will take place in Kisoro district.

 

Other activities lined up by the ministry include a conservation conference, which will take place on February 27 in Kampala. It will bring together conservation practitioners, the private sector, policymakers and all tourism stakeholders.

 

The ministry will also hold a wildlife conservation quiz, debate, music dance and drama to help raise awareness on conservation issues among the youth.

 

The tertiary institutions competition will be held on February 21 at Uganda Christian University - Mukono, the secondary schools competitions will be held on February 29, at Seseme Girls Secondary School, Kisoro and the primary schools competition will be held on March 2 at Mutolere Primary School, Kisoro.

 

The theme of this year's celebration is, Sustaining wildlife for the benefit of the present and future generations.