Calsaar to Host Uganda’s First Culture and Heritage Marathon in July

In a bold fusion of fitness and cultural celebration, Calsaar Cultural Initiative will host the inaugural Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon on July 27, 2025, aiming to promote unity, wellness, and indigenous identity.

Uganda’s cultural tourism sector is set for a major boost as Calsaar Safaris Uganda, through its nonprofit arm—the Calsaar Cultural Initiative—announces the launch of the first-ever Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon.

The event, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Kitante Primary School in Kampala, promises to be more than just a race.

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Themed “Running for Culture, Unity and Sustainable Development,” the marathon will feature three categories—5km, 10km, and 21km—welcoming participants of all ages and abilities.

But beyond physical exercise, the event seeks to spotlight Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage through traditional music and dance, crafts exhibitions, storytelling, and a cultural awareness symposium.

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Calsaar to Host Uganda’s First Culture and Heritage Marathon in JulySports

Participants will register at a modest fee of Shs 25,000, which includes a marathon kit and access to all activities.

Proceeds will fund a cultural preservation project in Soroti District, where indigenous knowledge, oral traditions, and folklore from the Teso region will be documented with help from elders and cultural leaders.

“This marathon is more than just a race. It is a collective affirmation that culture matters, that unity is achievable, and that sustainable development must be rooted in our identity and heritage,” said Steven Sekajja, executive director of Calsaar Cultural Initiative, during the official launch at the Uganda Media Centre on April 17.

The initiative builds on a growing trend of sports tourism in Uganda and follows Calsaar’s past engagements, including a cultural symposium at Makerere University, a heritage exhibition in Kabale during International Museums Day, and a tree-planting campaign in Kigezi.

As part of this marathon, 1,000 indigenous trees of cultural significance will be planted, linking culture to environmental stewardship.

Calsaar’s move aligns with national efforts to diversify tourism ahead of major events such as Africa Cup of Nations 2027, where Uganda will co-host the continent’s premier football tournament.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has called on tourism stakeholders to leverage the occasion to boost local tourism.

The upcoming marathon joins a lineup of popular sports events—like the MTN Kampala Marathon, the Elgon Half Marathon, and the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon—that have shown the potential of athletics to generate economic activity and cultural pride.

Uganda’s rich mosaic of over 56 tribes, each with its own customs, language, and traditions, will be front and centre at this event.

As the world commemorates the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development every May 21, Calsaar’s marathon emerges as a timely initiative to ensure that culture is not only preserved but also lived, shared, and celebrated.