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Mount Rwenzori, the third highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro and Kenya, is a unique and beautiful feature with its snow-capped summit.

The range of mountains is a combination of beautiful peaks, glaciers, valleys, rivers, lakes and different species of flora and fauna, making Rwenzori a scenic spot.

This should be one of the biggest attractions for domestic and international tourists, but the mountain attracts only a fraction of the 35,000 tourists who visit Mount Kilimanjaro.

But tour operator Amos Wekesa and Robert Kabushenga, former CEO of Vision Group, want to change that narrative by leading a travel and tourism initiative called the Tusker Light Rwenzori Mountain Marathon. increase. It aims to position and showcase the uniqueness of Rwenzolis to local and international tourists.

The marathon will be held today, September 3rd, at the foot of the mountains in Kasese, western Uganda.

“We saw what happened on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and thought we could replicate it on our mountain. Kasese is beautiful and very safe.

“To understand it, you have to go through it and feel the pain, the difficulty it gives you, and the effort it takes to go through it and come back. is called a technical mountain.It may not be the highest, but it is the hardest mountain to climb in Africa.It is very difficult to climb, ”explains Kabushenga.

According to Wequesa of the Rwenzorith tribe, the set of five ranges is 120 kilometers long and 143 kilometers wide. This means that so many different activities can be done, and because of its length and beauty, he can accommodate four to five times more climbers than any other mountain in Africa.

“We were healthy mentally and physically, so we were successful[hiking]but the challenge is that the higher you go, the thinner the oxygen. You also have to know that it’s tough, sometimes we climb 15 to 18 hours a day,” says Wekesa, 49.

In a broader perspective, the marathon aims to introduce domestic and foreign tourists to the attractions of the Kasese tourist area.

They include Rwenzori National Park, home to giant heather, groundsell and lobelia, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to a wide variety of wildlife, a wide variety of bird species, and flora and fauna. Lake George and Lake Edward.

As such, Kabushenga is confident that the marathon will definitely raise awareness about Rwenzori, most importantly the fact that Rwenzori is the source of much of the country’s fresh water.

Conversations about climate change are also important.

“I have seen how things are changing. Gracias is all dried up, all the streams and rivers that were once there are dried up. We may be heading for a freshwater crisis.” No,” explains Kabushenga, who is also an avid agronomist.

He noted that many Ugandans have expressed great interest in participating in the various marathons and runs held in Kampala, and that the suburban setting offers marathon enthusiasts a unique experience in picturesque scenery. We encourage you to provide

Elizabeth Mutamuriza, Brand Manager for Tusker Lights, said the Rwenzori Marathon is pushing the envelope as an opportunity to explore the great outdoors away from the hustle and bustle of Kampala city.

“Someone said the other day that boda boda is yelling at you when you are running in Kampala. We will support the tourism and hospitality economy in Kasese by eating and doing other businesses in the streets and bars,” explains Mutamuriza.

Kabushenga says it targets Ugandans who love running and want to go anywhere for running. Many run in groups and can travel to different locations to run. “Some of them go to Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa and participate in running there, so they want to create something of their own that is challenging. We want to get some international runners who understand why it’s hard to run,” explains Kabushenga, noting that the marathon already has a lot of inquiries and payments, and payments to participate in the 5km run. I added that it is being done.

Wekesa expects 2,000 runners and has expressed concerns over whether Kasese will be able to receive and accommodate visitors.

“Investors and those with resources need to smell the coffee and put in place the necessary infrastructure to take advantage of the opportunities events like the marathon that exist in tourism clusters,” he says.

“If you assure people of continuity, they will start investing and they will follow the opportunities. It is good to have good partners on board.”

According to Kabushenga, even if you can’t find your shoes, you can still run for your health. This is one of his most effective exercises.

“The elevation in Kasese is much higher than what most runners are used to in Uganda. Add the discipline of running at a pace of , and as you run, get to know your body and test your determination and willingness to take on challenges. is the key.

Endurance running has earned a reputation in many parts of the world, including Africa. For example, in South Africa there is his Comrades Marathon, an ultra-marathon of approximately 89 kilometers held annually between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal. Started in 1921, it is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race.

Uganda can also appreciate the iconic nature of the Kili Marathon, which was held 20 years ago. At the end of February, and possibly at the beginning of March, Tanzanians and avid international athletes and sportsmen ran his standard 42.2 km marathon, his 21.1 km half marathon, in the town of Moshi. Run a 5-kilometer fun run. in Tanzania.

Besides sightseeing, marathons are one of the most effective forms of exercise and the cheapest and most affordable way to stay fit. The marathon will combine sports, health and traditional agrotourism with an appreciation for highland coffee.

Kabushenga is (very) passionate about Uganda’s proper use of national property, especially that which is unique to Uganda, naturally given, and irreproducible.

To celebrate Rwenzori’s majestic beauty, the inaugural Tusker Light Marathon will encompass those who bring their enjoyment out through an afterparty and concert that concludes the event.

“We are looking to grow the marathon through our long-term partnership. Our goal is to grow this marathon to the level of the Kilimanjaro Marathon and put it on the world athletics calendar,” said Mutamuriza. I will explain further.

According to information on the official website www.mtrwenzorimarathon.com, transportation and accommodation will be handled by Tripesa, a digital platform that enables African tourism businesses to conduct and thrive online.

Tripesa has built a website (www.visitrwenzori.com) and works with over 100 hotels in the Kasese area to increase hotel bookings not just for the festival but for the future.

All hotels on the website are therefore vetted by the Kasese Tourism Investors Forum, an association representing the interests of tourism stakeholders in Kasese.

Participants will warm up from 6:10 to 6:30 am. The flag will be waved at 6:40am for the 42km race and at 7am for the 21km race.

At 7:40am, those ready to run the 5km marathon are also flagged, and at 8:30am it’s time to cool down and stretch. Entertainment at 9am, speech at 10am.

From noon until dawn there will be more entertainment. The monumental event ultimately advocates for a healthier lifestyle and serves as a reminder of the need to protect the environment.

According to the official marathon website www.mtrwenzorimarathon.com, participants in the Full and Half Marathons (42km and 21km) must be at least 18 years old and participants in the Family Fun Run must be under 18 years old. Always by a responsible adult.

You must be in good health, in good physical condition and ready to take on the races entered. No pets are allowed on the course whether they are on a leash or not.

Participants are obliged to follow the instructions of the stewards and at all times run officers or Uganda Traffic Police. In addition, the Organizer reserves the right to enter and use any video, recording or other recording of any participant obtained for any legitimate purpose, including commercial advertising by the Sponsor of the Event.

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