MINISTRY OF TOURISM SUPPORTS THE 3RD EDITION OF THE ELGON HALF MARATHON TO AMPLIFY SPORTS TOURISM & BOOST TOURIST VISITOR NUMBERS.

The race was flagged off by Ugandan athletics champions, including Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo at Mbale Cricket Grounds on Saturday, 1st November 2025.

On Saturday, 1st November 2025, Mbale city hosted the 3rd edition of Elgon Half Marathon at the Mbale Cricket Grounds as runners took on the streets of the city to pursue distances of 5km, 10km, and 21km under the theme ‘’Sports for Sustainable Development’’ organized by the Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation (JCDF), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Brussels Airlines, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), OXFAM, Uganda Red Cross Society, National Forestry Authority among others.

The race was flagged off by Ugandan athletics champions, including Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo. Kiplimo arrived in Mbale as the current half-marathon world record holder of 56:42 set in Barcelona that took place on 16th Feb 2025, reinforcing Uganda’s international stature in distance running and uplifting the country’s potential as a sports-tourism destination. 

This year’s Elgon Half Marathon attracted approximately 1,200 runners from Kampala, the Eastern Uganda region, and from across the world, with a focus on youth economic empowerment, climate action, and the fight against gender-based violence.

Joshua Cheptegei praised the initiative’s growth and its partnerships, linking elite sport to social outcomes. Before the run, organisers and partners planted over 6,000 trees in and around Mbale, a tangible expression of the climate-action pledge.

Additionally, Cheptegei urged communities to avoid farming along riverbanks, protect watersheds, and maintain the momentum in tree-planting efforts to curb floods that have repeatedly affected the city.

He also supported the anti-GBV campaign, arguing that violence undermines family well-being and economic progress, and challenged local leaders to keep investing in youth enterprise and skills to enable sports to become a means of livelihoods.

Ian King, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  in Uganda, commended the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation and its partners for their efforts in giving back to the community through such impactful initiatives.

He said, “This is the third edition of the Elgon Half Marathon. As UNDP, we value our partnership with the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation because the event supports communities, attracts participants from across Uganda, and even from neighboring countries like Kenya and Ethiopia,”.

Results at a glance

The marathon featured three race categories of 21 km, 10 km, and 5 km,

with the following winners:

21 km (Men)

1. Chelangati Levi (Uganda Police)

2. Akwech Peter- (Uganda Prisons)

3. Kibet Mande Isaac -Arua

21 km (Women)

1. Chesanga Doreen (Uganda Wildlife Authority)

2. Chepkwemoi Loice (Uganda Police)

3. Cheptoek Ruth

10 km (Men)

1. Kibet Dan (Uganda Prisons)

2. Helicopter Dolphine (Uganda Prisons)

3. Musoba Deo (JOLDEF)

10 km (Women)

1. Chelangat Annet (Uganda Wildlife

Authority)

2. Chemutai Scalet (Uganda Police)

3. Yeko Esther (Uganda Police)

5 km (Men)

1. Comboni Daniel (Uganda Prisons)

2. Chemutai Silas (Uganda Prisons)

3. Kiprop Hosea (Uganda Prisons)

5 km (Women)

1. Chekiremoi Brenda (Uganda Prisons)

2. Chelangat Sylvia (Uganda Police)

3. Chekwemoi Teddy Simion

In total, UGX 15,000,000 in prize money was awarded, and every finisher received a medal.

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) and Uganda Tourism Board have been at the forefront of Uganda’s tourism diversification synergies to create a variety of tourism products, with sports tourism being part of how Uganda will raise tourist visitor numbers, attract investment, and create jobs. That policy push has been evident in funding and partnerships around flagship events like the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon, where, with a UGX800 Million boost in 2025.

The major government agenda also includes a new National Destination Marketing Strategy (2024–2029) led by UTB and MTWA, which involves sport and adventure as part of a more diversified brand proposition for “Explore Uganda

The Elgon Half Marathon comes on the heels when Uganda recently hosting the CAF CHAN 2025 at Mandela National Stadium and is currently in high gear to co-host.

AFCON 2027, together with Kenya and Tanzania. The tournament has accelerated investment and upgrades in sports infrastructure assets that also support sports-tourism events like Elgon before and after the Cup.

Part of the Sports tourism infrastructure developments in Uganda includes the Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa for athletes, the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium currently HAM Stadium reopened in 2024 after an extensive private-sector-led redevelopment of transforming it into a modern, multi-purpose arena in the middle of Kampala, redevelopment of Mandela National Stadium into full functionality and the construction of Hoima City Stadium, one of the AFCON venues delivered by SUMMA, which has reported substantial completion ahead of the tournament. 

Uganda Vision 2040 positions tourism among the country’s core strategic opportunities for national development alongside oil and gas, minerals, ICT, and agriculture. The Vision emphasizes leveraging these opportunities by strengthening key fundamentals such as infrastructure in energy, transport, ICT, human resource development, and security to enable sustainable economic growth.