News Release
Kampala, Uganda: Over twenty five thousand athletes are expected to participate in this year’s MTN Kampala Marathon slated for 5th December 2010.
The MTN Kampala Marathon is the biggest sporting event on the country’s sporting calendar, and draws together sports and non-sports enthusiasts, from all walks of life.
This year’s Marathon is the 8th in a series of events hosted by MTN Uganda and will attract regional elite athletes from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and for the first time ever Ethiopia.
MTN Uganda CEO Themba Khumalo announced the MTN Marathon theme as ‘Thinking About You’. Addressing the media at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, he said the announcement was timely as it coincided with the launch of celebrations to mark the company’s 12 years of operations in Uganda.
Flagging off MTN Marathon at Cricket Oval Lugogo
“Today we launch the 2010 MTN Kampala Marathon. As MTN we are also celebrating 12 years of operations in Uganda, and we are thrilled to celebrate in style, with the theme ‘Thinking About you.’ Everyone who will participate in this years’ marathon, will be doing it, for someone in need. And that is the spirit of Yarribba!” said Khumalo.
At the event, Khumalo also handed over UGX 172 million to the Uganda Red Cross Society. The money from the 2009 Marathon will be used to scale up access to clean water and improve sanitation in Lokung Sub County, Lamwo district.
“For the last six years, proceeds from the Marathon have been used to support expectant mothers in the Northern and Eastern parts of Uganda. Starting this year, we are hoping to address the increasing demand for access to clean, safe water. Through our partners URCS, the first water and sanitation project will be implemented in Lokung Sub county, Lamwo district and will scale up the provision of safe drinking water and improve sanitation and hygiene for over 4500 people. MTN Uganda is proud to hand over these proceeds to the Uganda Red Cross Society, to facilitate this development initiative,” Khumalo said.
About the MTN GROUP
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As at 30 September 2009, MTN recorded 108,4 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East. Please visit www.mtn.com and www.mtnfootball.com