By David Isabirye

Copyright kawowo

The Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon has received the Best International Tourism Promoter of the Year 2025 award from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities.

The award comes just after the recent World Tourism Day celebrations, further cementing the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon’s place as a leading tourism promoter for Uganda.

The award was presented to the Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) team on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, by the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon organizers.

UBL Managing Director Felicite Nson received the award from the Marathon Team Lead Amos Wekesa.

The Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon, which held its fourth edition in August this year, has garnered global appeal, attracting runners from around the world.

The Uganda Tourism Board recorded that, this year, runners from 56 countries attended the event.

According to Amos Wekesa, whohimself operates a tourism business in Kasese, home of the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon, before the race debuted in 2022, the region saw relatively low tourist traffic.

Since then, the number of visitors coming to the area annually has grown more than sixfold.

“Tourism operators benefit greatly during the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon because the area is flooded with both local and international travelers. Some families actually rent out their homes during the marathon week. I was really impressed when I met a woman on the road who told me she made 2.5 millionshillings, enough to pay her children’s school fees for the entire year. I believe this trend will continue to grow and it is having a positive impact on the local community,” Wekesa said.

UBL Managing Director Felicite Nson, who recently took on her new role, is impressed by the progress the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon has made, especially regarding its impact on Kasese and the surrounding areas.

She said that the award is a well-deserved recognition of the marathon’s contribution to promoting tourism and supporting local communities.

“I’m really proud to be welcomed with this award and truly honored to receive it. So, thank you so much,” Nson said.

“We are committed to ensuring that in every community where we operate, we give back meaningfully. I believe that is why we support this event and why we want to continue doing so. Our goal is to make it bigger and even more impactful. We are happy to continue this journey together,” she added.

Catherine Ndungu, the UBL Marketing Director, stated that in just a few years, the marathon has ticked nearly all the boxes of what it aimed to achieve, and is still growing stronger.

“Hotels, tour operators, and local businesses in Kasese and neighbouring districts now see the marathon weekend as one of their busiest and most profitable times of the year. This is because the event continues to attract elite athletes and adventure runners from many countries, boosting tourism and hospitality in western Uganda,” she said.

Since its inception, the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon set out to: put Uganda on the global athletics and tourism map, showcase the Rwenzori region’s breathtaking beauty and culture, promote wellness and active lifestyles among Ugandans, and create meaningful economic opportunities for local businesses.

One of the key success stories from this vision is Abel Chelnagat. He was first spotted by representatives of Adidas Running during the 2024 edition after he won it.

Thanks to the platform and exposure the event provided, he has since competed internationally in the Porto Marathon in November 2024, Riyadh in February 2025, Rabat in April, and most recently at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Denise Paula Nazzinda, Brand Manager Premium Beer at UBL, said the that the marathon reflects Tusker Lite’s commitment to fostering community spirit, encouraging movement, and driving progress, both physically and economically.

“The growth and impact of the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon over the last four years has been inspiring. We’re excited to keep building on this momentum and to make next year’s edition even more impactful,” she said.

Praised by participants for strong community engagement and the scenic route, the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon will return in August next year for its fifth edition.