A record field is expected to race the 100^th edition of the Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban next year with former chair and current board member, Mqondisi Ngcobo excited about prospects for this special edition of the great ultra-marathon.

Ngobo, who came onto the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) board in 2016 as an ordinary member before serving as vice chair to Cheryl Winn between 2018 and 2021, completed his 8th Comrades this year in his best ever time for the up-run of 7 hrs 56 min.

Having served an ‘apprenticeship’ under the dynamic leadership of Winn, Ngcobo took over as chair, where he served till last year.  He is currently completing his final year on the board and spoke to SPNAfrica on this year’s race as well as looking ahead to 2027.

Will he be standing again for the board in the centenary year of the event?

“I haven’t made up my mind about standing again,” Ngobo admitted. “Sometimes it is good to take baton and hand it over, as Cheryl (Winn) did before me.

“Comrades has stablised nicely and is in a very good place now. The current leadership is doing well and everyone is pulling their weight. Comrades is returning to where it used to be – the greatest ultra in the world.

“We have some young blood and a good diversity of skills on our board, with experience from people such as Barry Holland, Willie Mtolo and Rory Steyn”.

What were some of the high points of this year’s race?

“A big highlight for me was the three-batch start, which we implemented for the first time. This levelled the playing field for the back runners as the cut-off points were based on the last group to start.  

“It used to take up to 12 minutes for the back markers to cross the start line. Now it was only 5-6 min across the line. I must admit that I was a traditionalist favouring just one group at the start as we always had in the past, but I’ve seen the benefits of the new system, so have changed my mind!

“The success of the three-batch system contributed to the high finishing rate. We had 22 000 entries, 20 000 starters and over 19 000 finishers, which is one of the highest percentages of finishers ever.

“A second highlight was the exceptional effort from our race director, Sue Forge, in introducing changes at the finish at Scottville. It was the best in years in terms of traffic management. There are often traffic challenges but this year there was virtually no congestion and a free flow of athletes. I salute Sue and her team for that!

“A third highlight was the overall organisation along the route. There were scarcely any issues apart from running out of water at one point, where the team were swift to respond and arrange for more water to be delivered. And there were thankfully no cut-off issues this year.”

In a race as vast and complex as Comrades, there are inevitably challenges on the day. What were some of the areas of difficulty to which the team had to respond this year?

“There are always challenges in the build up to the race but I think we managed those very well. The issue of the live broadcast proved challenging and there was a lot of uncertainty in that respect. It was perhaps not of the best quality, but the fact that it was broadcast on SABC ensured most South Africans were able to watch the race for the first time in several years.

“And the introduction of the YouTube channel was well received and will form a big part of the preparation for next year’s centenary event.”

Comrades is known as one of the biggest spectator-events in South Africa with hundreds of thousands turning out along the 90km route year on year. How was spectator ‘gees’ this year?

“The spectators were quite impressive once again,” Ngcobo related. “The only deterrent which impacted negatively was the road works between Cato Ridge and Pietermartizburg which limited access to the route. We will be working closely with traffic authorities to ensure best possible access for spectators for next year’s centenary.”

Next year’s 100^th Comrades Marathon provides a significant opportunity to reach out to the world and bring on board new partners and stakeholders. Can you give an idea of some of the exciting developments planned for the occasion?

“We have put together an ad hoc committee, led by board members Barry Holland and Rory Steyn, who will be bringing proposals for various innovations and ancillary events to the board. These will be announced at or after the launch of the centenary race later this year.”

Holland is a Comrades legend. With 49 Comrades Marathons under his belt, his quest for a unique 50 has been thwarted by a COVID-related illness but he has turned his passion for running the Comrades into playing a major role in ensuring its legacy, particularly for next year’s centenary.

“Details of our proposals will be revealed at the launch of our hundredth edition next month,” Holland told SPNAfrica. “Rory heads the group, which we’ve called V427 or Vision for ’27, and our vice-chair Nontuthuko Mashimane and I are working closely with him. Comrades stalwarts Bruce Fordyce and Norrie Williamson complete the group, adding valuable depth of experience and insight.

“Our aim for next year is that Comrades should be delivered at a very high level. We were delighted that this year’s event under the directorship of Sue Forge was exceptional – we had glowing reports – and we want to build on that and deliver an even better race next year.

“We aim to introduce unique ideas to take Comrades to a new level by extending our outreach to include the runners’ families.  We plan to launch something very exciting, never been done before, targeting the wider family and exposing them to the Comrades magic.

“As access onto route has become increasingly challenging, we are aiming to take people off the course and bring them to the finish line for an ultimate experience of Comrades.”

Holland admitted that the demand for entries next year is expected to substantially exceed capacity. While not divulging the number of runners which the CMA plans to admit to the race next year, there is a strong probability that the record field of 22 000, which raced in the millenium year, will be exceeded, possibly by as much as 30%, ensuring Comrades maintains its status as the world’s biggest ultra-marathon.

“But we want to dispel the urban myth, which has been created in social media, that no novices will be allowed to run next year – that is absolute rubbish.  Our number one priority is safety, so we need to plan to take on the biggest field without compromising that principle.

“This year’s Comrades sold out in less than ten hours, which impacted negatively on some parts of the world,” Holland admitted. “We will not make that mistake again and will stagger the ballot releases to give everyone a fair chance to enter.

“We have an exciting idea from Bruce and Norrie involving international runners and are working hard to make that happen.”  

Holland reflected that the hundredth edition will be looking for ways to celebrate Comrades legends, both those living and who have passed on.  “We plan to include something very special for our living legends such as Dennis Tabakin, Witsie vd Westhuizen and Louis Massyn.

“We also want to return to our roots and honour those returnees from the First World War who founded the race, people such as Victor Clapham. Often those stories get lost in the mist of times, but we are planning to celebrate and communicate our rich heritage as boldly as possible.”

Ngcobo echoed Holland’s cautions about the size of the field. “There will definitely be a cap on numbers for reasons of runner safety, race experience and logistics,” the former Comrades chair stressed. “We will likely keep the three-batch start to ease some of the congestion around Pollys Shorts.

“Durban is much bigger than Pietermartizburg and so in terms of traffic flow and infrastructure we can accommodate increased numbers. Sue (Forge) will be leading a team to plan traffic and runner flow at the finish in conjunction with the road authorities to see what is possible in respect of numbers.”

It would appear that Comrades has done its best to raise governance practices to new levels, with the current board committed to best practice in this regard.

“No member of the board is operational,” Ngcobo concluded. “Our Race Director has full reign in operational matters and reports to Alain Dalais our GM who is accountable to the board. This year went very well and the teamwork between the Race Director and GM was excellent.”

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Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for People with Disability in Uganda (CoRSU Hospital) launched the third edition of the CoRSU Disability Walk, a nationwide fundraising and disability awareness campaign that seeks to raise UGX 400 million to provide life-changing surgical and rehabilitation care for 100 children living with disabilities.

The annual charity walk, scheduled for Sunday, 4th October 2026 at MUBS Sports Ground, is expected to bring together thousands of Ugandans, government leaders, corporate organisations, development partners, healthcare professionals, families and disability advocates in a united effort to improve access to specialised rehabilitation services while championing disability inclusion across the country.

The campaign is being organised by CoRSU Hospital in partnership with EMKA Foundation, MUBS, Crown Beverages Limited (Pepsi& Nivana), Great Outdoors, Humanity & Inclusion, Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), with additional partners expected to join in the coming weeks as preparations gather momentum.

Recognition goes to the donors CBM, Hope and Healing International, Smile Train and Miracle Feet for your contribution compliments greatly the CoRSU walk proceeds.

This year’s fundraising targetwill directly support comprehensive surgical and rehabilitation care for 100 children, each requiring an average of UGX 4 million for surgery, therapy, assistive devices and follow-up rehabilitation.

The funds will also strengthen critical rehabilitation infrastructure, enabling CoRSU Hospital to reach even more children requiring specialised care.

The campaign comes against a growing demand for paediatric orthopaedic and rehabilitation services in Uganda, where close to 300 children every year remain on waiting lists for surgery because of inadequate funding.

By reaching this year’s target, CoRSU aims to reduce its annual backlog of unfunded surgeries by approximately 33 percent, giving hundreds of children the opportunity to walk, learn, play and live more independent lives.

Now in its third year, the CoRSU Disability Walk has evolved into one of Uganda’s leading disability advocacy initiatives, bringing together communities and institutions around a shared purpose of ensuring that disability is never a barrier to opportunity.

The impact of the initiative continues to grow. During the 2025 edition, the campaign raised more than UGX 71 million, enabling 17 children to receive orthopaedic and plastic surgeries, 21 patients to access rehabilitation services, and 62 patients to benefit from other specialized medical care.

These achievements build on CoRSU Hospital’s broader legacy. Since its establishment in 2006, the hospital has carried out more than 70,000 life-changing surgeries and rehabilitated over 100,000 patients, making it one of East Africa’s leading centres for specialised orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation.

Every year, the hospital performs an average of 2,500- 5,246 surgical procedures and delivers approximately 12,500 therapy sessions, with children accounting for nearly 80 percent of all surgeries.

The launch was presided over by Patrick Menya, Social Gerontologist from the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, who attended as the Guest of Honour and called on Ugandans to unite behind children living with disabilities, noting that access to healthcare and rehabilitation is a shared national responsibility.

The strength of a nation is reflected in how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens. Every child deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified and productive life regardless of their circumstances. The CoRSU Disability Walk is about restoring hope, creating opportunity and demonstrating that together we can remove the barriers that continue to limit children living with disabilities. I encourage every Ugandan, every corporate organisation and every institution to join this noble cause on 4th October and help transform lives.

Patrick Menya, Social Gerontologist from the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development

He also commended CoRSU Hospital and its partners for championing disability inclusion, noting that collective action is essential in ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy equal opportunities.

“Disability inclusion is not solely the responsibility of government; it requires all of us. Initiatives such as the CoRSU Disability Walk demonstrate what can be achieved when government, the private sector, development partners and communities work together.” Menya added.

Speaking on behalf of CoRSU Hospital, Robert Ochai, Chief Executive Officer, said the campaign represents an investment in Uganda’s future.

Behind every child waiting for surgery is a family waiting for hope. Every contribution made through this campaign translates into a child walking again, returning to school, gaining confidence and living a fuller life. Our ambition this year is bigger because the need is greater, but we are confident that with the support of our partners, sponsors and the generosity of Ugandans, we can reach our target and transform the lives of at least 100 children. Together, we can prove that disability should never define a child’s future.

Robert Ochai, Chief Executive Officer (CORSU Hospital)

According to the Uganda National Population and Housing Census, 12.5 percent of Uganda’s population lives with some form of disability, while many childhood disabilities can either be prevented or effectively managed through timely access to specialized healthcare.

Yet for many families, the cost of treatment remains beyond reach, making initiatives such as the CoRSU Disability Walk a lifeline for children whose futures depend on timely intervention.

Members of the public, corporate organisations, schools, families and development partners are encouraged to participate in the 3rd CoRSU Disability Walk on Sunday, 4th October 2026 at MUBS Sports Ground, and to support the campaign through sponsorships, donations and team registrations.

Every step taken and every contribution made will help restore mobility, dignity and hope to children living with disabilities.

To join this fundraising campaign, participants and supporters can send their contributions to CoRSU via MTN Mobile Money, Paybill Code: 599 393, or Airtel Money Paybill: 4369 188 registered under CoRSU Hospital.

For enquiries about participating in the walk or purchasing event kits, the CoRSU Customer Care team is available on 0761-002111 or 0761-002157.

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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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