Uganda International Marathon Masaka – Are you interested in running through the beautiful Masaka countryside?

As regular Diary of a Muzungu readers will know, I’m a regular runner with Kampala Hash House Harriers (more for socialising than the running!) In fact, no way am I a good runner – but Hashing has helped me explore Kampala, Jinja, Nairobi, Kigali, and – just last weekend – Addis Ababa.

Hashing “the drinking club with a running problem”runs every Monday at 6 pm – Red Dress Run for the Valentine’s Hash, Kampala

But move over Muzungu, Uganda has some awesome running talent: Ugandan long-distance runner Stephen Kiprotich is the reigning World and Olympic marathon champion, having won gold at both the 2012 London Summer Olympics and the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.

Uganda International Marathon Masaka logo

Whether you’re a serious Marathon runner, or just fancy exploring somewhere new for the weekend, the Uganda International Marathon in Masaka may be just what you’re looking for!

Lizzie, from the  Uganda International Marathon organising committee writes:

Having already gained support from mainstream media in the UK, the Uganda International Marathon hopes to engage visiting British runners with this beautiful country and simultaneously raise funds for NGOs who work to support the most vulnerable within it.

The inaugural Uganda International Marathon is being held on 24th May 2015. The event will see 100 International runners join 800 Ugandan nationals and expats to run a beautiful course through the rural villages and farmland of Masaka, three hours drive west of the capital of Kampala.

The Uganda International Marathon offers full (42km), half (21km) or 10km routes and participants receive a race number, medal, headscarf and water around the whole course. After the race there will be a party in Masaka’s Liberation Square, open to all, with food and drinks available as well as music and dancing. The brilliant Weaverbird Arts and Sculpture camp will play host to the Athletes Village.

Uganda International Marathon Masaka runners

Our International runners are using the Marathon as a chance to fundraise, an option we strongly encourage expat and local entrants to do too. All money raised will be split between the local community and a charity or cause of your choice, anywhere in the world. This allows people to not only contribute to the local community of Masaka that will be welcoming them, but also to contribute to a cause that’s already close to their heart.

The team behind the Marathon include CHEDRA, an NGO based in Masaka, and several Londoners who have all come together to create the race, which will hopefully become an annual feature in the region.

UK news coverage of Uganda International Marathon Masaka international runners

We hope you can join us for the inaugural Uganda International Marathon, which promises to be ‘a race like no other’.

To register for the Uganda International Marathon, expats and foreign volunteers should buy tickets online here. For details on where / how Ugandan nationals can register (Kampala / Masaka or via Mobile Money) go to my Diary of a Muzungu Facebook page.

View from Weaverbird Arts and Sculpture camp, Masaka, host to the Uganda Marathon’s Athletes Village

Hope to see you all in Masaka!

If you have any friends who you think would be interested in this event, please send them this link and follow the updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Update August 2015: the event was a success and is planned again for 2016! Check out the Uganda International Marathon web site.

Update June 2016: last minute registration! Special price for Ugandans is just 10k UGX per person. Check my Diary of a Muzungu Facebook page for info.