Uganda is set to mark Olympic Day with a distinctive national initiative that blends sport, nutrition, and community transformation, as the Uganda Olympic Committee partners with the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development and the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre to launch the Olympic Day Tooke Run.
Scheduled for 20th June 2026 in Bushenyi District, the event will run under the theme “Move, Learn and Discover for Nutrition Care,” placing renewed emphasis on the intersection between physical activity and proper nutrition as pillars of both individual well-being and national progress.
The Run forms part of a broader, three-year strategic partnership aimed at leveraging sport as a catalyst for improved nutrition, athlete development, and community empowerment. Organisers say the initiative reflects a deliberate shift toward aligning sporting activity with key socio-economic priorities, particularly food security and public health.
According to Donald Rukare, the collaboration is anchored in the core values of Olympism—excellence, respect and friendship—while recognising nutrition as a fundamental driver of athletic performance and societal wellbeing. He noted that transforming Uganda’s staple banana crop into a competitive, high-quality product remains central to this vision.
The Tooke Run is also structured to deliver tangible outcomes. Proceeds and partnerships generated will support vulnerable populations—especially children in the weaning phase—while also contributing to the preparation of Ugandan athletes for the Youth Olympic Games 2026. In parallel, the initiative seeks to popularise Tooke as a sustainable energy source for athletes and elevate the visibility of Uganda’s banana value chain within regional and global markets.
Florence Isabirye Muranga, a leading voice in nutrition advocacy, emphasised that the programme goes beyond sport, positioning itself as a national response to nutrition challenges while promoting healthier lifestyles through inclusive physical activity.
In the lead-up to the Run, stakeholders will convene for a high-level engagement and fundraising breakfast on 27th April 2026, aimed at mobilising resources and strengthening partnerships critical to the event’s success.
The Run is expected to attract wide participation, with organisers confirming that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will officiate as chief guest.
Uganda Athletics General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru confirmed the federation has sanctioned the event and will extend full technical support.
“The Tooke Run is among the events officially sanctioned by Uganda Athletics. It has met all the required rules and regulations, and we are fully committed to supporting the organisers,” Ayikoru said.
“We will deploy national technical officials, working alongside the Bushenyi Athletics Federation and district officers, to oversee and manage the event’s technical operations.”
Ayikoru added that Bushenyi and the greater western Uganda region have a rich athletics heritage, noting that the event presents an opportunity to reignite talent identification.
“We are confident this event will help uncover new talent from the region and channel it back to the national level, which is why we fully support the initiative,” she said.
Activities will extend into an Olympic Week from 22nd to 27th June, featuring education sessions, nutrition sensitisation programmes, and community outreach initiatives designed to entrench a culture of health, wellness, and active living.
Organisers have issued an open call to the public, corporate partners, and development stakeholders to take part, framing the Tooke Run as more than a sporting event—but a national movement to advance nutrition, empower communities, and strengthen Uganda’s sporting future.
