MOMBASA, Kenya — Hundreds of Kenyan runners braved heavy rains to take part in a beach activation event promoting the 2026 Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon, as organisers intensified efforts to attract participants from across East Africa to Uganda’s flagship athletics event.
The high-energy run-walk, held along the Mombasa coastline, brought together runners from Mombasa, Nairobi and other parts of Kenya despite wet weather conditions that failed to dampen the enthusiasm of participants.
The event was organised through a partnership between the Rwenzori Marathon team and the Uganda Consulate in Mombasa as part of a regional campaign aimed at boosting international participation in the fifth edition of the marathon scheduled for August 22, 2026, in Kasese District.
Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Herbert Kiguli, and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Mohammed Osman, officiated at the event, flagging off participants and highlighting the growing tourism and cultural ties between Uganda and Kenya.
The activation marked the second promotional event held in Mombasa ahead of the marathon and forms part of a broader strategy to position the race as one of Africa’s premier destination marathons.
Tourism entrepreneur and Rwenzori Marathon promoter Amos Wekesa said the campaign is targeting a significant increase in Kenyan participation this year.
“Rwenzori Marathon 2026 activation here in Mombasa today. Rwenzori Marathon in partnership with the Uganda Consulate in Mombasa. Targeting 2,000 runners from Kenya this year,” Wekesa posted on social media following the event.
Organisers believe Kenya’s strong running culture and proximity to Uganda make the country a key source market for participants in the marathon, which has grown steadily since its launch and now attracts runners from across Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.
The 2026 edition will once again be staged in Kasese, at the foot of the iconic Rwenzori Mountains, offering runners a unique route that includes crossing the Equator and taking in some of Uganda’s most spectacular landscapes.
The World Athletics Label race features multiple categories, including a 5-kilometre fun run, 10-kilometre and 21-kilometre races, as well as the full 42-kilometre marathon.
Beyond athletics, the event has increasingly become a tourism showcase for the Rwenzori region, promoting adventure tourism, conservation, culture and hospitality in western Uganda.
With less than three months to the race, organisers say promotional activities will continue across East Africa as they seek to attract record participation and further establish the Rwenzori Marathon as a major sporting and tourism event on the continent.
