Thousands of people have taken part in the 12th edition of the Rotary cancer run at the Kololo Independence Grounds, on Sunday, August 27, 2023, which kicked off at 6:00am, with vigorous aerobics that went on for almost one hour.

The Uganda Rotary Club is targeting to raise Ugx 2Bn in the cancer run under the inspiring theme “Run for Hope” in Kampala at Kololo, and 40 other towns and cities with a target of 50,000 runners nationwide.

The Chief runner was the Managing Director (MD) of Centenary Bank, Fabian Kasi. The run aims to raise substantial funds to support the construction of a state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility at St. Francis Nsambya Hospital.

This year’s 12th cancer run will add to the successes that Rotary has registered in the past 11 editions they have had.

The 21km runners were flagged off at 6:40 am and the 10km runners at 6:50am and lastly the 5km run kicked off at exactly 7:00am. The participants were flagged off by the Past District Governor, Mike Kennedy Sebalu.This particular run had the most participants including the Woman Member of Parliament (MP) Betty Ethel Naluyima.

Dignitaries who include a delegation from European Union( EU) with about 20 people, Ambassadors from Eritrea, Germany, Pakistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has supported this cause for the last five years have also participated in the run.

Rtn Isaac Sserwanga Lwanga from Rotary club of Kampala South thanked the participants who showed up for the run in large numbers to support the noble cause of fighting the deadly disease.

“We are here to fight cancer. At least, each one of us has lost a relative or friend due to this deadly disease.That is the reason we have this run to fight cancer. I want to thank you for always coming to participate in the run. It is through the cancer run that we were able to construct the cancer blood bank in Mengo Hospital, and now we look forward to have the radiotherapy unit set next to the cancer ward, so that people do not only receive chemotherapy but they are able to receive radiation,” Sserwanga said.

The cancer treatment facility is set to house two bunkers, a crucial addition to the country’s healthcare infrastructure to enhance cancer treatment accessibility for all Ugandans.

The organisers thanked the different facilities, which include Mengo, Nakasero, IHK, UMC Victoria, St. Francis Nsambya, City Ambulance, Buloba Medical Center, and AAR Uganda, among others, that ensured that the participants are cared for.

This year’s Rotary cancer run platinum sponsors were the Parliament of Uganda, Centenary Bank, Uganda Police, New Vision, NBS sport, Uniliver Uganda and Krystal Natural Mineral water. All platinum sponsors received tokens of appreciation in recognition of their magnificent support rendered to the cause.

Today’s run attracted more than 40.000 people and about Ugx 1.56Bn was collected. However, the link for the contribution is still open for people who would wish to donate.