Mungusho (left)- (Daniel Cherop) right
Under the theme “to fight against gender based violence and corruption in sports”, the 2024 Kawempe Mile race has been launched.
The launch was held on Friday, the 20th December 2024 at Highland Hotel in Kapchorwa District.
The race coordinator Mark Cherop conducted the ceremony with the presence of other dignitaries from Local government and the race partners.
While addressing the media, race organizer Abdul Semu said;
“The aim is to inspire more athletes to take part in middle distance running.
It’s a race that even a non-runner can take part in without requiring massive blocks of training that other distances require and that’s why it’s a mile.” Semu explained.
“The race also unites athletes from 400m all the way to the marathon with the mile.
It’s the only distance on the track that can be run by even non-athletes.” He added.
This will be the 2nd edition of the Mile Race and is scheduled for 28th December 2024 at the Teryet High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa.
The winner in the Senior’s categor will walk away with UGX. 1,000,000 (one million mganda shillings) both men and women.
The first runners-up will take UGX. 500,000 (five hundred thousand shillings) while the second runners-up will take home UGX. 200000 (two hundred thousand shillings).
The Junior’s category champion (17-12 Years) in both boys and girls will smile home the with 300,000 (three hundred thousand).
First runners-up will pocket 200,000 (two hundred thousand shillings) while the second runners-up wins 100,000 (one hundred thousand shillings).
The current top athletes in the track races Tom Dradiga (Men) and Knight Aciru (Women) won the first edition of Kawempe Mile Race held in Kawempe Division, Kampala last year.
Registration is free for both Elite and Amateur athletes via Kawempe Mile Race website and Kapchorwa Trinity FM offices.
The Kawempe Mile Race is deemed to be the highest paid run in Uganda per 400m and is organized in a mobile format.
There are a lot of barriers in Ugandan athletics, one of them being that many talented upcoming athletes cannot afford transport to get to races.
This is the reason why a mobile race that will be hosted in different areas in Uganda was created to give a chance and a platform to those athletes.
Mark Chelop – Coordinator and Partner for 2024 Kawempe Mile Race highlights more about the race;
“We have received overwhelming numbers registering for this race.
The cause we have this year is fighting against Gender based violence and fighting corruption.” Chelop said
“It has been a tough year for the people of Sebei, where we have lost athletes due to gender based violence.” Chelop added.
During the launch, race partner Martin Mongusho also expressed his gratitude to the Kawempe Mile Race vision holder.
“Apart from fighting gender based violence, there is also a good cash prize for the race which I think is good to motivate the people of the community.”
“It is also a healthy run for those of us who want to cut excessive weight.” Mongusho said.
