Eastern Wins Gulu City Inaugural Annual Cultural Marathon

Athletes from Eastern Uganda have dominated major positions at the first edition of the Gulu City cultural marathon.   

At least 500 athletes from across the Country competed for cash prizes ranging from 250,000 shillings to 1.5 million in the different categories held in Gulu City on Saturday. 

The categories included 42 kilometres for both men and women, 21 kilometres for both men and women, 10 kilometres, 5 kilometres for’ run and 10 kilometres for persons with physical disabilities.    

In the 42-kilometres Andiema emerged winner, followed by Philips Kiptoo and Anthony Ayeko all from Eastern Uganda. 

Maximilla Cherotich from Bukwo District won in the female category for 42 kilometres, Chetop Rebbeca from Kapchorwa District came second and the third was Chemos Scarlet from Bukwo District again.   

In an interview with Uganda Radio Network the 25-year-old, Chemos Scarlet says, she turned to running when she dropped out from school in 2018 after sitting Uganda Certificate of Education.   

Scarlet who also came third at the recent Kasese marathon is hopeful to represent Uganda in the international marathons and the next Olympics.   

“Each day I wanted to be like Rebecca Cheptegei, unfortunately, she was brutally killed but I will one day hope to run like her” Scarlet recalls.  

Bonita Mulengi, the Captain for Fast and Ferrous Runners Club in Kampala, the event Organizers noted that the running community had chosen Gulu to host this annual.   

“The roads in Gulu City are all flat and we expect athletes to set records and break them here as we move to the second edition of the marathon next year” Mulengi noted.   

Sylvia Owori, the Director of Operations at Operation Wealth Creation-OWC commended the organizers for aiming at preserving cultural heritage in the region.   Awori noted there is a need to promote cultures where communities can take advantage of cultural tourism, an opportunity which she said is under-exploited by the region.   

The Co-Chair of the Event Organizing Committee and former Uganda Law Society President Francis Gimara asked the young persons to take advantage of their skills development and talents.   

//Cue in: “We are celebrating… 

Cue out:…as Gulu City.”//   

The Paramount Chief of Acholi David Onen Acana II who was the Chief Guest asked Ugandans from parts of the Country to invest in Gulu City.   

Acana observed that a City like Gulu must appreciate the diversity of cultures and the existing opportunities that come with it for socio-economic development.