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.

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