Mackay Memorial College Rallies Community Power in Landmark Zzimba Run to Drive UGX 1.59Bn Infrastructure Project
Mackay Memorial College, Nateete, delivered a compelling statement of community mobilisation and institutional ambition with the successful staging of the inaugural Zzimba Mackay Run on Saturday, August 8, 2026, an initiative designed to fast-track the construction of a modern multi-purpose block.
Over 3,000 participants turned up for the event, competing across 3km, 5km, and 10km distances in a show of solidarity that blended sport with purpose.
Participation kits were pegged at UGX 25,000, with all proceeds channelled directly towards the project.
The run was flagged off by Mukono High Court judge Justice Steven Mubiru, an old student (1981–83), underscoring the enduring bond between the institution and its alumni.
He was joined by a cross-section of stakeholders, including Board Chairman Steven Sserunjogi, Board Old Students’ Representative Paul Sserubiri, as well as delegates from the Church and Buganda Kingdom.
At the heart of the campaign is an ambitious UGX 1.59 billion infrastructure plan that will deliver a main hall, computer laboratory, administrative offices, and expanded classroom space, critical additions aimed at aligning the school with contemporary academic demands.
Head Teacher Jane Harriet Namiiro Kato framed the initiative as both urgent and strategic, citing sustained enrolment growth that has stretched existing facilities beyond capacity.
“This run responds to a real and immediate need.
Our student population has grown significantly, and expanding our infrastructure is no longer optional—it is essential,” she noted, while commending the community for its strong turnout.
Namiiro Kato also emphasised continuity in leadership, acknowledging her predecessor’s role in initiating the project and reaffirming her administration’s commitment to seeing it to completion.
“We are building on a foundation already laid.
The task before us is to transition from temporary wooden structures to permanent, well-equipped learning spaces that reflect the standards we aspire to,” she added.
Rooted in a distinguished legacy, Mackay Memorial College traces its origins to Alexander Murdock Mackay, the British missionary who arrived in Uganda in 1878.
Since evolving into a secondary school in 1967, the institution has cultivated a reputation for producing well-rounded graduates, distinguished not only in academics but also in vocational skills such as carpentry, tailoring, bakery, hairdressing, technical drawing, and electrical installation.
The Zzimba Mackay Run now positions itself as a cornerstone event on the school calendar, one that fuses heritage, community engagement, and forward-looking development into a single, purposeful stride.
