Just a couple minutes short of 7am on Sunday 24th November, the 42 kilometer run of this year’s MTN Marathon had kicked off, and the other runs too commenced minutes later. Over 30,000 people participated in the 10km, 21km, 42km and the intriguing tricycle race of 5km.

In their numbers, runners set off from Kololo airstrip, and some were seen munching away on snacks before the challenge was underway. Public figures like Robert Kabushenga, CEO Vision Group and Samson Kasumba, a journalist with NBS TV; both participated in the 21 kilometer run, with the latter crossing the finish line in 2 hours 21 minutes.

Via the 42km route, Phillip Kiplimo and Nyakisi Adero of Prisons Athletics Club broke the MTN Kampala Marathon Record for male and female versions of that distance respectively. Kiplimo, 27, who won bronze at last year’s event, crossed the line in 2 hours 13 minutes, taking more than five minutes off the previous record to win a gold medal. Conversely, Jacob Kiplimo and Juliet Chekwei took home 4,500,000 shillings each for winning the 21 kilometer races of their respective genders.

Ms Adero had just returned from maternity before winning the marathon, and she got showered with praises by Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Honorable Minister of Health for her bravery in supporting the course to help women in maternity and their children; to whom all proceeds from the marathon will go.

19 year old Dennis Cherotich won the 10 kilometer male marathon, and the other 99 runners after him received medals for their efforts.

Over 128 Million Uganda shillings worth of prizes was given out to participants, and the CEO MTN Uganda, Wim Vanhelleputte presented dummy cheques to winners.

As you already know, everyday is a party day in Uganda, so revelers were treated with some great entertainment by musicians Levixone, Spice Diana, Vinka, John Blaq and child stars Fresh Kind and Felicita.