The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Uganda has launched its first Elgon Half Marathon which will take place in Mbale on October 28, 2023.

According to Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative to Uganda, the run will be led by Joshua Cheptegei and is aimed at promoting climate action and tourism in the country.

“It is very exciting, we have launched the first ever UNDP Elgon Half Marathon with Joshua Cheptegei who is a three times World and Olympic champion and Icon for Uganda leading the run. So we are very excited because we are pushing forward a message, which is very critical,” Attafuah said.

The marathon which is said to be aimed for the people of Uganda in several areas especially tourism, involves a registration cost of Ugx 30,000.

She said that, the 21km, 10km and 5km marathon will also involve tree planting, to bring to attention the climate change and the effects of Covid-19 and Ebola on the tourism industry of Uganda.

“We know that tourism is one of the most important pathways for development in Uganda, and sports tourism for that matter offers an opportunity. When you begin to unpack the tourism industry, if you go to a hotel for example, we eat there which means, it was bought from a farmer and therefore, we are creating opportunities of livelihoods and jobs for people. Before Covid hit, tourism was the number one foreign exchange for Uganda, so it’s really about people,” Attafuah noted.

She noted that, climate change is one of the most compelling challenges of all time and that it is one that impacts on food, water, security, and trade, since Elgon region is very vulnerable because of deforestation and degradation.

Attafuah revealed that, when it rains the flooding downstream impacts on people and destroys facilities. So as the UNDP, they want to bring to attention climate change.

“At a time as this, when we have just come out of the Africa summit and the African climate to push the message across, we are using this marathon to push for climate action, more planting of trees, ensuring that we conserve the ecosystem and make sure that together, we can be able to make sure that Uganda is not vulnerable,” she noted.

Andrew Kabuura, a sports journalist while at the launch explained that, the marathon is not only promoting sports but aimed at amplifying the need for climate action and tourism promotion in the region.