More than a race, the Fort Portal City Marathon is building a platform where sport, tourism, business and community converge in Uganda’s Tourism City.

Just days from now, thousands of runners and visitors will descend on Fort Portal for the second edition of the Fort Portal City Marathon, which takes place on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

They will run the 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races, all starting and finishing at Boma Ground.

But the bigger story of the Fort Portal City Marathon lies beyond the distances covered and medals earned.

The marathon is much more than a race in the truest sense of the word.

It is a platform to promote healthy living, showcase Fort Portal and Tooro as one of Africa’s most compelling tourism destinations, create opportunities for local businesses and bring communities together.

Every runner who comes to Fort Portal does more than complete a race. They stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, use local transport, visit tourist attractions, shop, interact with communities and ultimately become potential ambassadors for the destination.

That is the bigger vision behind A Run in Paradise.

Tourism in motion

Fort Portal is uniquely positioned for a destination marathon.

Uganda’s official Tourism City sits at the heart of a region blessed with crater lakes, tea estates, cultural heritage, forests, mountains and some of the country’s leading tourism attractions.

The Rwenzori Mountains, Kibale and Semuliki national parks, Karuzika Palace, Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru, Tooro Golf Club and dozens of hidden crater lakes are all part of the wider experience awaiting visitors.

The Kingdom sees the marathon as an opportunity not only to attract visitors but also to showcase Tooro’s culture, hospitality and economic potential.

“The Fort Portal City Marathon provides us with an opportunity to showcase the beauty, culture and hospitality of Tooro while creating opportunities for tourism, investment and economic growth,” Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki said.

The invitation, therefore, is simple: come early, experience the Marathon Business Expo, run the race, enjoy Fort Portal’s nightlife, explore Tooro and then return home with stories worth telling.

“The marathon may bring you to Fort Portal, but the landscapes, culture, adventure and hospitality are what make you stay,” Fort Portal City Marathon CEO Stephen Mugabe said.

Business beyond the finish line

The inaugural edition demonstrated the economic potential of the marathon.

More than 1,000 runners registered, 40 exhibitors participated and more than 100 volunteers helped deliver the event.

With a significant number of participants travelling from outside Fort Portal, hotels, restaurants, transport operators, tourism businesses, exhibitors and local enterprises benefited from increased activity around race weekend.

This year, the marathon expects over 2,500 runners and nearly 5,000 people across the three-day experience.

The Marathon Business Expo, scheduled for July 16–17 ahead of Race Day on July 18, provides businesses, government agencies, tourism operators and brands with direct access to participants and visitors.

Impact that goes further

The marathon’s ambition also extends beyond tourism and business.

During the inaugural edition, 1,000 tree seedlings were distributed to marathon participants and institutions in partnership with Roofings Limited, while a percentage contribution was committed to the Tooro Education Fund.

This year, the marathon will support Tooro Babies Home and encourage participants and visitors to contribute essential items for the children in its care.

The marathon is also building deeper connections with Tooro Kingdom, Fort Portal Tourism City, government agencies, corporate partners and communities.

His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV graced the inaugural edition as Guest of Honour, underlining the growing relationship between sport, culture and tourism.

The road ahead

The long-term ambition is to establish the Fort Portal City Marathon among Africa’s leading destination marathons.

That journey will require sustained partnerships, stronger organisation, greater community involvement and an experience compelling enough to bring visitors back year after year.

For now, the next chapter begins on July 16. The Expo will open. Visitors will arrive. Businesses will engage. The city will come alive.

And on Saturday, July 18, thousands will take to the roads of Uganda’s Tourism City.

A Run in Paradise awaits.

The post Why Fort Portal City Marathon? appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

• Event: 2nd Fort Portal City Marathon

• Date: Saturday, 18th July 2026

• Start & Finish: Boma Ground

• Distances: 5KM, 10KM, 21KM, 42KM

• Fee: Ug.Shs 60,000 with a finisher’s medal

• Theme: A run in Paradise

All is set for the second edition of the Fortal Portal City Marathon due on Saturday, 18th July 2026.

Over 2,500 runners are expected to take to the roads of Uganda’s Tourism City in Fort Portal City for the theme marathon; “A run in Paradise”.

The countdown is on. With Race Day fast approaching, preparations for the second edition of the Fort Portal City Marathon have entered the final stretch as organizers prepare to welcome thousands of runners and visitors to Uganda’s Tourism City.

The start and finishing point will be at the famous Boma grounds.

Varying distances:

The runners will compete in the 5KM, 10KM, 21KM (half marathon) and 42 KM (full marathon) with nearly 5,000 people anticipated across the wider three-day marathon experience.

But activity will begin long before the first runner takes to the road.

Last year, Cosmas Olemukan won the full 42 KM marathon whilst Hilda Nkoola won the same distance for females.

Three days of experience

The Marathon Business Expo will run from July 16–17 at Boma Ground, bringing together businesses, exhibitors, government agencies, tourism operators, partners and visitors.

The Expo will provide a platform for businesses to showcase products and services, engage directly with participants and create experiences ahead of Race Day.

The Fort Portal City Marathon is no longer simply about what happens on Race Day. We are building a complete experience. We want people to come early, experience the Expo, run the marathon, enjoy Fort Portal, explore Tooro and leave as ambassadors for the destination.

Stephen Mugabe, CEO – Fort Portal City Marathon

Bigger second edition

The 2026 edition builds on the foundation of last year’s inaugural marathon, which attracted 1,000 registered runners, 40 exhibitors and more than 100 volunteers.

This year’s event is expected to more than double runner participation while welcoming a growing number of visitors, exhibitors and partners.

The marathon has also expanded its national visibility through partnerships across tourism, media, corporate and public sectors.

Organisers say preparations have focused on delivering a safe and memorable experience, with work ongoing around race logistics, route management, hydration, security, medical support, branding and participant experience.

Running through paradise:

Starting and finishing at Boma Ground, the marathon route takes runners through the distinctive landscape of Fort Portal.

The course winds through the leafy Njara hills, crosses the Mpanga River and climbs the demanding Bukwali Hill before passing some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, including St Leo’s College Kyegobe, Nyakasura School, St John’s and Virika cathedrals, Fort Portal’s adjacent mosques and Karuzika Palace.

Beyond the course lies an even wider destination experience. Visitors can explore Tooro’s crater lakes, tea estates, cultural sites, national parks, nightlife, hospitality and communities.

Community at the heart:

The marathon will also continue its community impact initiatives. This year, organisers will support Tooro Babies Home and encourage runners, visitors and partners to donate essential items for children in its care.

The initiative builds on the inaugural edition’s environmental and education interventions, which included the distribution of 1,000 tree seedlings and a committed contribution to the Tooro Education Fund.

“Our ambition is to build something that creates opportunities for businesses, promotes healthy living, supports our communities and showcases our destination to Uganda and the world,” says Mugabe.

Final call

Registration for the marathon is UGX 60,000, covering the official marathon shirt, route hydration and a finisher’s medal.

As the final countdown begins, organisers are calling on runners, families, businesses and visitors to make their way to Fort Portal.

The message is simple. Come early. Experience the Expo. Run the race.

Discover Tooro.

The post Fort Portal City Marathon 2026: A run in paradise with over 2500 runners anticipated appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Samwel Kiprotich (Salomon) raced to his first Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) title on Sunday (5 July), winning the Quebec Mega Trail 28,9km in Canada in a tight finish as athletes from Africa walked off with the major share of the prize money.

Kenyan and Moroccan athletes filled the top six places in one of the closest men’s races in the history of GTWS.  Just 47 seconds separated 6^th– placed Kenyan Timothy Kibbett (Salomon) from his compatriot Kiprotich, with the first non-Africa, American Taylor Stack (Brooks), trailing 6 minutes back in 7^th.

Romanian athlete, Madalina Florea (Scott), last year’s overall GTWS champion, won the women’s race after a tough duel with Kenyan Caroline Kimutai (Salomon). Florea finished a yawning seven minutes clear of French athlete Marie Nivet (Nike ACG) as Kimutai faded in the final quarter to finish third, another two minutes back.

The race marked Quebec’s entry into the GTWS circuit and took place over a demanding 28.7-kilometre course featuring 1,397 metres of elevation gain.

Most of the climbing took place in the first third of the race, which featured two technical climbs up Mont-Sainte-Anne, and steep descents through its ski resort. The second half consisted largely of fast, root-strewn singletrack trails.

After finishing fourth at Ledro Sky Trentino earlier this season, Kiprotich stepped onto the top of the podium in only his second GTWS race. “I’m happy. Of course, it wasn’t easy,” said Kiprotich after his victory.

“I didn’t want to spend too much energy following the leaders in the early stages because I knew I needed to be strong at the end. In the last ten minutes I pushed at full speed and got the win.”  

Florea prepared well for race, arriving ten days early to adapt to the change in time zones and become familiar with the route. “It was a very good day for me,”said Florea after her victory. “The spectators along the course gave me wings and flower power!

“It’s no longer that important for me to be number one – it’s more important to enjoy myself in racing. Winning the Golden Trail World Series title last year had been a dream for many years. Now it’s time to enjoy every race.

“But if enjoyment and winning can go together, then I’ll say ‘okay – let’s do it!’”

Runner-up at Ledro Sky Trentino, Florea’s victory in 2:27:12 moves the Scott athlete into the lead of the overall standings with 442 points, ahead of Kimutai on 408 and Nivet on 344.

Moroccan Elhousine Elazzaoui (Nnormal) mixed it with the leaders from the start but found the flatter, faster second half favoured his rivals. He finished fourth behind Kenyans Philemon Kiriago (Run2gether On Trail) and Nashon Kiplimo (Salomon), just 31 seconds behind the winner, but retains the overall series lead thanks to his victories at Zegama-Aizkorri in Spain and Ledro Sky Trentino in Italy.

“Yes, for me the race was good but it was really too flat for me. There are many athletes who are good on the flat,” Elazzaoui told SPNAfrica. “The next one will be better and I’ll be racing Sierra Zinal.”

The race got off to a blistering start but the first ascent, a brutal 2.4-kilometre climb averaging 21%, quickly whittled the field down to a lead group of Adam Sjolund (Ponderosa Pilates), Elazzaoui, Kiriago and Kibett. Kiprotich was just 12 seconds adrift with Stack a further 12 seconds back.

With the two major climbs behind them, the race shifted into a higher gear on the northern slopes of Mont-Sainte-Anne, winding through fast and technical forest trails. The fight for victory was completely open heading into the decisive final section, with several athletes still firmly in contention.

In the end, it was Kiprotich who claimed victory, crossing the line in 2:08:19 after a performance built on consistency and tactical patience. Kiriago finished second, just five seconds behind, while Nashon Kiplimo completed the podium a further 13 seconds back after an intensely contested second half of the race.“

Runner-up at Ledro Sky Trentino, Florea went one better this time, claiming a dominant victory in 2:27:12. The win moves the Scott athlete into the lead of the overall standings with 442 points, ahead of Kimutai on 408 and Nivet on 344.

The GTWS moves back to Europe for the fourth leg, the 23,5km Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail, which takes place in Austria on 1 August, just a week before the fifth leg at Sierra Zinal (SZ) in Switzerland.  

Zegama and Sierra Zinal have been the only fixtures in the GTWS programme since its inaugural year in 2018, with many regarding SZ as the most competitive trail race on the planet. While the race records are held by trail legends Kilian Jornet and Maude Mathys, Africa has dominated in recent years, and every indication is that this year will be no different.

The post Six of the best for Africa at Quebec Mega Trail appeared first on Sports Network Africa.