Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDB) has committed Shs20 million towards the 2026 Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon as part of its efforts to support Uganda’s tourism sector and promote investment in the Rwenzori sub-region.
The sponsorship was announced on Tuesday at the UDB Head Office in Kampala, where Managing Director Dr Patricia Ojangole handed over the cheque to Amos Wekesa, Team Lead of the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon.
The 2026 edition of the marathon is scheduled for August 22 in Kasese District and is expected to attract about 8,000 runners from 27 countries.
Speaking at the handover, Joshua Allan Mwesiga, UDB Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, said the Bank’s support goes beyond the financial contribution, noting that UDB will also field a team of staff to participate in the marathon.
“We are supporting the marathon because we believe tourism is a key foreign exchange earner for the country and by supporting the sector, we are supporting Uganda’s growth,” Mwesiga said.
He said UDB is committed to enhancing Uganda’s attractiveness as a preferred tourism destination by promoting diverse and experiential tourism, including cultural, heritage and culinary tourism.
“On top of the financial contribution, we shall also be fielding a team of staff to participate in the marathon,” Mwesiga added.
He said the marathon also fits within UDB’s culture of putting people first by promoting staff wellness and well-being.
This is the second time UDB is sponsoring the Rwenzori Marathon and the third time its staff are participating as runners.
Mwesiga noted that despite the tourism sector’s significant socio-economic potential, more investment is needed in accommodation facilities, enabling infrastructure, specialised tourism vehicles and skills development.
Wekesa commended UDB for its continued support of the marathon and its broader engagement in efforts to develop the Kasese and Rwenzori region.
“I want to thank Uganda Development Bank for the continuous support towards Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon. In the last two to three years, I know that the leadership in Kasese has convened several meetings focused on how to develop the district, and UDB has played a very key role in those discussions,” Wekesa said.
He said the marathon provides an opportunity to attract investment into the Rwenzori sub-region, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Wekesa pointed to the shortage of hotel accommodation in Kasese, saying facilities are routinely overbooked as the marathon approaches.
“To those looking to invest in the tourism sector, Uganda Development Bank is an essential partner to engage given the Bank’s low interest rates,” he said.
The 2026 Rwenzori Marathon has also been awarded World Athletics Label Road Race status, making it the first marathon in Uganda and only the third in East Africa to receive the international designation.
According to Wekesa, the status raises the profile of the event and provides Ugandan athletes with an opportunity to compete in a race recognised under international athletics standards.
He said the marathon can also serve as a platform for Ugandan athletes seeking to qualify for major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
UDB is Uganda’s national Development Finance Institution, mandated to accelerate socio-economic development through sustainable financial and non-financial interventions.
The Bank supports investments in priority sectors including agriculture, agro-industrialisation, manufacturing, extractives, health, tourism and hospitality, education, science, technology and innovation, as well as infrastructure.