JINJA – The 13th edition of the Source of the Nile Half Marathon will take place this Sunday, 15th February, in Jinja City, with top athletes set to compete for substantial prize money and national team slots ahead of the World Road Running Championships in Denmark.
The annual 21-kilometre race, which starts and finishes at Fast Gym, will follow last year’s route and is expected to attract over 200 runners. Organisers say the event continues to grow in stature, drawing elite competitors from Uganda and neighbouring countries including Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Big Prize Money at Stake
A total of Shs 5.9 million will be awarded to the top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories. The winners will each take home Shs 2,000,000, with second place earning Shs 1,500,000, third Shs 1,000,000, fourth Shs 800,000 and fifth Shs 600,000.
“This event gives an opportunity to athletes to earn something at the end in the form of prize money,” said Abdallah Muhammed, the Publicity Secretary of Athletics Uganda, while addressing the media ahead of the race.
Government-Funded Championship
Muhammed thanked the government for its continued financial support, noting that the championship is fully funded by the National Council of Sports (NCS).
“We thank government for the continued funding of our activities. Without a sponsor, this event is entirely run on government money,” he said.
He emphasized that the half marathon serves as a key preparation event for Uganda’s national team athletes ahead of the World Road Running Championships scheduled for 19th–20th July in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“This event has given a chance to so many young athletes to break through and we need to handle it seriously. It’s a preparation championship for our national team players,” Muhammed added.
Boost to Tourism and Local Economy
Namayo Mawerere, the Deputy General Secretary of Uganda Athletics, described the race as Jinja City’s flagship athletics event.
“Jinja City’s biggest athletics event is the Source of the Nile Half Marathon,” Mawerere said. “The event has been a big booster to tourism and the economy since its inauguration in 2009.”
With Jinja famously known as the adventure capital of East Africa and home to the Source of the River Nile, organisers believe the race continues to elevate the city’s profile as a sports tourism destination.
“We are expecting a big turn-up, and Jinja has all the capacity to successfully accommodate all,” Mawerere said, urging fans to attend. “We call upon the fans to turn up and witness the magic of our elite stars who always fly our flag high on the international scene.”
Concerns Over Road Conditions
Despite the excitement, organisers raised concerns over the state of some roads along the route.
Muhammed decried the poor road conditions in parts of Jinja, noting that they have for years affected athletes’ speed and overall performance. He called on relevant authorities to address the issue to ensure better racing conditions and athlete safety.
Defending Champions Return
Last year’s race saw strong performances from regional athletes. In the women’s category, Chebet Saibi claimed victory, followed by Annet Chelangat in second place and Ruth Cheptoyek in third.
In the men’s race, Mark Kiptoo led the podium, with Oscar Kibet finishing second and Isaac Mande Kibet taking third place.
With registration still open, organisers anticipate another competitive field this year as athletes vie not only for prize money but also for national recognition and international selection.
As the countdown to Sunday continues, all eyes will be on Jinja, where sport, tourism and national pride converge at the Source of the Nile.
