Running Nation: Uganda’s New Obsession

Ugandans have become professional runners. Cancer Run. Rwenzori Marathon. Makerere Run. Annual Muslim Run. Name a cause and we are running. If there is no cause, we invent one and still run.

And I support it. Whether you run, walk, or stagger through, at least your body is in motion. That movement saves us from blood pressure, diabetes, and expanding waistlines. So keep moving, even if the cause is as mysterious as the medals themselves.

Of course, our runs have become more than fitness. They are now auditions for marriage. A friend once told me that one Run is where serious husbands are found. Another marathon is where you go for vibes, road trips, and get-togethers.

And then there are those who attend just to parade posh sneakers and athleisure that cost more than a boda. Running has become a fashion show where you may choose to sweat, but the goal is to ensure your makeup remains intact by the end of the race. Your sweat, too, should smell a little expensive, so invest in sporty deodorant and perfume.

The men are not innocent either. Some of you have discovered that your true motivation is jogging behind well-endowed women. Today is not the day we shall discuss the quality of leggings. Let us save that for another time. Transparent or translucent, the goal is to save your thighs from painful friction.

Nabwire has attended every single run. She has collected medals like a landlord collects rent. Do these medals cure cancer? No. Do they make her fitter than most of us? Absolutely.

The truth is, many of us do not follow up on the causes. We sign up, hashtag, sweat a little, then go home with a vest that doubles as a weekend wife’s nightdress. But at least the running keeps us alive. It is health disguised as charity, and even when the causes fade, the movement still matters.

So let us continue. Run for everything. Run for nothing. Just keep running. Your body is watching.