Britam Uganda has committed Sh100 million towards the fifth edition of the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon, set for Saturday, August 22, in Kasese.
The commitment was confirmed during a press conference at Britam Uganda’s head offices in Kampala on Tuesday, marking the company’s fourth time supporting the marathon after missing the inaugural edition.
Britam’s Sh100 million contribution will go towards enabling the post-race massage and recovery tent, which provides athletes with recovery services after completing the demanding race.
Richard Mwebesa, Business Development Manager at Britam Uganda, said the company believed in the marathon’s vision from the beginning and has been encouraged by its growth and social impact.
“We bought this vision once we interacted with Amos Wekesa and he shared that this marathon would become global and attract people from all over the world. We believed in him and he has lived up to that expectation, but most importantly is the value that we have seen so far, especially the social impact,” Mwebesa said.
Mwebesa added that supporting the marathon fits within Britam’s philosophy of creating a positive impact in communities. The company joins Tusker Lite and other sponsors supporting the fifth edition of the race.
Amos Wekesa, the team lead of the marathon organising committee, welcomed Britam’s continued partnership, emphasising the importance of athlete recovery after the race.
“How we look after the athletes after the race is very important. That tent, the quality is improving every year and runners go away excited,” Wekesa said.
He thanked Britam for returning as a partner and expressed hope that the relationship will develop into a long-term partnership as the marathon continues to grow as a major sports tourism event.
Rwenzori Marathon, the journey so far
The Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon began in 2022 after tourism entrepreneur Amos Wekesa and a team of adventurers raised the marathon flag on the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains. The vision was to combine sport, tourism, adventure and entertainment while showcasing the beauty of Kasese and the Rwenzori region to the world.
The inaugural race on September 3, 2022, faced heavy rains, muddy terrain and slippery trails, but the challenging conditions added to its adventure appeal. Local communities embraced the event, cheering runners along the route, while the post-race celebrations eventually evolved into the popular Tusker Lite Neon Raves.
By its second edition, the marathon had grown into a major economic driver for Kasese. Hotels, restaurants, transport operators and small businesses benefited from the influx of visitors, while participation surpassed 1,000 runners. A Makerere University study later estimated that the 2023 edition generated more than Shs3.5 billion for the Kasese economy through tourism, business growth, job creation and increased hotel occupancy.
The marathon also opened new opportunities for athletes after its course received World Athletics certification. Abel Chelangat, who won the men’s race in 2:14:59, used his internationally recognised time to compete in major races in Porto, Riyadh, Rabat and Barcelona. Other athletes also improved their rankings and attracted sponsorship and invitations to international competitions.
The fourth edition marked another major milestone, attracting more than 3,500 runners from 56 countries. Kasese hotels reached full occupancy, while tourism authorities, the Uganda Tourism Board and security agencies increased their support. The event had firmly evolved into an international sports tourism platform, bringing global attention and significant business to the region.
The fifth edition is set for August 22, 2026, with the marathon now holding World Athletics Label Status and featuring on the World Athletics Calendar. With a larger prize purse and growing international recognition, the race has transformed from a bold idea into a major economic and tourism engine for Kasese, while providing athletes, businesses and communities with opportunities that extend far beyond race day.
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