KASESE — Registration has officially opened for the 2026 Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon, with organisers promising a bigger, more globally accessible event following its elevation to international status.
The fifth edition of the race will take place on August 22, 2026, in Kasese District, featuring four race categories: full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km), 10km and 5km, catering to both elite and recreational runners.
Organisers confirmed that this year’s event has attained a World Athletics Label, making it the first Ugandan race to receive the global recognition and positioning it among internationally certified road races.
Global access and growing interest
According to race promoter Amos Wekesa, registration is now fully online and open to participants worldwide without previous country restrictions.
Runners can register using international payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard, as well as mobile money options across Africa, in a move aimed at boosting participation from across the globe.
Wekesa, who has been marketing the race at the Kilimanjaro Marathon expo in Moshi, said early engagements have already attracted interest from international runners, including groups from Denmark, the United Kingdom and Kenya.
Tourism and international appeal
The marathon, organised under the Rwenzori Marathon brand, has grown rapidly in recent years, drawing participants from more than 35 countries and significantly boosting tourism in western Uganda.
Set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains—often referred to as the “Mountains of the Moon”—the race has become a flagship event combining sport, adventure and destination marketing.
Looking ahead
With early bird registration now open, organisers say they are targeting even larger international participation in 2026, building on the race’s new global status and increasing visibility.
The event is expected to once again spotlight Kasese and the wider Rwenzori region as a premier sports tourism destination.
