By Denis Turyahebwa
Last week, MTN Uganda announced that the 2018 edition of the marathon will also take place in three different regional towns of Gulu, Mbale and Mbarara.
The Mbale Marathon was scheduled the first and slated for Sunday 4,November 2018 where the participants of the marathon will feature a 10km race and a 21km half marathon.
The edition for Gulu will be on November 11 while that in Mbarara will take place on November 18 and finally the MTN Kampala marathon will take place on 25th November at Kololo independence grounds where participants will feature in four race categories of 5kms (family run), 10kms, 21kms, and 42kms.
Proceeds from this year’s Marathon will go towards improving maternal health in Uganda.
According to MTN Uganda, this year’s edition of the marathon will have a new and better route for runners. The telecom also said the new route will be a lot more secure for marathoners against errant road users.
Meanwhile the marathon received a huge boost of Ushs 250million from Huawei one of the leading global information and communication technology solution
This was revealed at a special press meeting held at Huawei main head office in Kisementi, Kampala.
Olivier Prentout, MTN chief marketing officer who represented the chief executive, Wim Vanhelleputte hailed Huawei’s partnership in helping MTN continue to resound the drums of the marathon while helping change local lives of communities in need.
He explained that 14 years down the road while organising MTN marathon has been possible with the collective efforts and sustained relations they have maintained with companies like Huawei which have set precedent to add value in the lives of communities they operate in.
“Huawei’s involvement in the MTN Kampala marathon is an indicator that we will positively impact communities from the proceeds raised from the marathon,” Olivier said.
According to Liu Jiawei, the Managing Director, Huawei Uganda, the said money will go towards supporting maternal health in Uganda an event aimed at ensuring that there is safe childbirth, for all expectant mothers regardless of their means or when they come from.
“We have looked at enormous needs in the country and considering outreaches that have great impact like the Kampala marathon, we are delighted to contribute this money on good cause for the sake of our mothers,” said Luijawei.
He said that the contribution will place Uganda in a better position as far as its health sector support and development is concerned.
