Back in contention. Buganda Katikkiro Peter Mayiga stresses a point while launching the Kabaka Birthday Run at Bulange Mengo yesterday. Right, is Airtel MD VG Somasekhar. Airtel is the premium sponsor of the run. PHOTO BY George Katongole. Advertisement
This year’s Airtel-sponsored Kabaka Birthday Run will continue as planned, officials say.
The
fun run, held as part of celebrations to mark the Kabaka’s birthday,
will be held on April 5, 2020 starting and finishing in the palace
grounds.
But with Corona Virus, codenamed COVID-19, taking a toll on
sports across the world, and for instance leading to the Tokyo Marathon
run in front of empty streets and restricted to elite athletes only,
organisers insist preparations are going ahead as planned.
There are
now more than 88,000 confirmed cases of the virus around the world and
the death toll is over 3,000 — the majority of which are from mainland
China.
Ronald Kawadwa, the Chief Executive Officer Majestic Brands,
Buganda Kingdom’s official investment arm, said yesterday that all
precaution has been taken into consideration with St Catherine Hospital
who will offer disinfectants to all participants.
It is a sound idea
since the runners converge in an enclosed area with restricted entry.
But with numbers expected to soar above 50,000, more plans need to be
put in place ahead of the biggest run in Uganda.
Tackling health
The
seventh edition of the annual run has been calibrated to focus on
another health initiative, HIV and Aids. Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga
emphasised the need for Kabaka’s subjects to remain healthy at all
times.
“In Buganda, like anywhere in Uganda, men have positions,
power and privileges that come from patriarchal values. We must harness
their power so that they can be agents of social change,” said Mayiga.
He observed that men are normally resistant towards using condoms, taking drugs or adhering to treatment.
Traditional
leaders are considered the custodians of culture and are therefore
critical to shift society’s attitudes. Since 2017, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda
Mutebi II has been a UNAIDS goodwill ambassador.
Bringing together
communities to discuss HIV/Aids on his monumental birthday has a
positive effect in increasing HIV service uptake.
Previous editions
have tackled awareness on Fistula and sickle cell anaemia. Ahead of the
65th birthday celebrations on April 13th, health initiatives will be
held including a health camp on April 8.
Changes
The
run will remain with the three planned races, the longest being the
21km run as well as the most popular 10km and the shorter 5km. But
subscription fees have been raised by 50 per cent to Shs15,000 to raise
more money.
More partners have joined Airtel with the others being
DFCU Bank, KPMG, URA, Hotel Africana, Posta Uganda and St Catherine
Hospital.
