The acting commissioner for museums and monuments in the Ministry of Tourism, Jacqueline Nyiracyiza Besigye, has launched the first edition of the Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon run, scheduled for Sunday, 18th, May 2025, setting off from Kitante Primary School to celebrate Uganda’s rich cultural diversity and promote social unity, aligning with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The Marathon run, themed; “Running for Culture and Heritage,” is organized by the Calsaar Cultural Initiative with aims to celebrate Ugandan cultural diversity through sport, art, music, and storytelling. It is a community event focusing on identity, unity, and sustainable development.
Speaking on the launch at the Media Centre, Besigye highlighted that the Marathon will take place on the same date as the International Museum Day to emphasize awareness of the significance of the country’s culture.
“We want all Ugandans to know about the significance of our cultural heritage, and so we shall do this in all forms; that’s why we partnered with Calsaar Cultural Initiative to do this concretely,” she said.
In addition, the commissioner noted that the Marathon is not just a run, but a movement designed to celebrate Uganda’s rich heritage and diverse cultural traditions.Besigye also revealed that the proceeds from the event will support documentation and storytelling through focused by collecting and preserving indigenous knowledge.
Steven Sekajja, the founder of Calsaar Cultural Initiative, noted that tickets for the Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon are priced at an accessible charge of UGX 25,000 for adults and a discounted rate of UGX 20,000 for students.
“Regular tickets can be conveniently purchased online by simply searching for “culture and awareness marathon 2025″ on Quicket.com. However, other tickets can easily be purchased from the Uganda Tourism Board offices and the National Theatre in Kampala. The running vests will be provided to every ticket bearer at the marathon venue entrance (Kitante primary school) from 6:00 am to 7:00 am,” he said.
Sekajja also explained that to ensure student discounts reach the intended recipients, student tickets will be exclusively available through recognized university tourism associations and relevant study faculties, and therefore encouraged everyone to secure their spot early and invite their friends and families to join in this celebration.
The CEO and founder of Ewaffe Cultural Village, Aisha Nabwanika appealed to the public to participate in cultural tourism because it’s culture that defines us.
“This Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon comes at an appropriate time when culture is starting to pick up to be a stand-alone product. We are changing the narrative to have a cultural product that can surface for over two, three days even a full month becomes Uganda is blessed with a lot of cultural products,” she explained.
The event will feature a variety of activities, including the marathon race (5km), cultural performances, art exhibitions and workshops, storytelling sessions and traditional cooking demonstrations, and opportunities to engage with cultural leaders and artisans.
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