Kasese was transformed into a major sporting and tourism destination as runners from Uganda and different parts of the world converged on the western Ugandan town for the fifth edition of the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon.
The race, held on August 22, 2026, represented a significant milestone for an event that began in 2022 with ambitions of using sport to promote tourism, healthy living, local talent and the wider Rwenzori region.
The fifth edition came with increased international recognition after the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon became a World Athletics Label Road Race.
The designation placed the event on the international road-running calendar and made it the first marathon in Uganda to receive the prestigious label. According to the organisers, the race was also one of only three such races in East Africa.
The 2026 event featured four main running categories: the 42.2-kilometre marathon, 21.1-kilometre half marathon, 10-kilometre race and 5-kilometre Vibes Run.
The full marathon offered one of the event’s biggest attractions. Runners started at the Equator in Kikorongo, inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, before making their way towards Kasese and eventually into the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
The official route was internationally certified and measured 42.2 kilometres, with a maximum elevation of 1,200 metres above sea level and an elevation gain of about 410 metres.
The route also took competitors towards the Kilembe area, creating a demanding combination of distance, heat and climbing.
For organisers, however, the marathon was never intended to be only about running.
The race has increasingly become part of Kasese’s tourism strategy, bringing visitors who can combine participation in the marathon with trips to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains and other attractions in western Uganda.
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities described the fifth edition as a major showcase for sports tourism, saying thousands of runners, spectators and visitors converged on Kasese for the event.
The economic impact extends beyond the race itself.
Visitors require accommodation, food, transport and other services, meaning hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport companies, shops and other businesses can benefit from increased activity around the marathon weekend.
The event also gives local businesses an opportunity to showcase their products and services to visitors.
The organisers expanded the race arena and exhibition area for the 2026 edition, providing a larger space for runners, spectators and participating businesses. The marathon expo was held alongside race weekend and created an additional platform for corporate and commercial engagement.
Another major development was the international participation.
Before the race, organisers said athletes had registered from 26 countries and expected approximately 8,000 runners to take part.
The increase in participation reflected the growing reputation of the marathon beyond Uganda.
The race has also become an important platform for Ugandan athletes seeking internationally recognised competition.
With the World Athletics label, athletes competing in the event benefit from an internationally certified course and professional timing standards.
For recreational runners, meanwhile, the attraction remains the unique experience of running through a landscape that combines the Equator, savannah, wildlife areas and the Rwenzori Mountains.
The 21.1-kilometre Kilembe Half Marathon has also attracted international attention for its scenery, with the organisers noting its recognition as one of the world’s scenic half marathons by USA Today.
By bringing together elite athletes, recreational runners, tourists, businesses and local communities, the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon has grown into an event with significance beyond athletics.
For Kasese, the marathon represents an opportunity to tell a different story about the district — one built around sport, tourism, natural beauty and economic opportunity.
The fifth edition therefore marked more than another race on the Ugandan athletics calendar.
It represented the continued transformation of the Rwenzori Marathon into one of the country’s most visible sports tourism events.
