A Ugandan proverb highlights the importance of relationships with the phrase, “Mountains never meet, but people do.” Following that advice, East Africa’s road-running landscape is becoming increasingly collaborative.
The Great Ethiopian Run (GER) is encouraging Ethiopian runners to participate in Uganda’s Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon, a move that reflects growing cooperation among some of the region’s premier road races while strengthening ties between neighbouring running communities.
The invitation was extended ahead of Saturday’s CBE Run at Entoto Park in Addis Ababa. GER is encouraging participants and recreational runners alike to travel to Kasese, Uganda, for the World Athletics Label Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon on Aug. 22.
The partnership brings together two events rooted in East Africa’s rich tradition of distance running. While the region has long been recognized for producing Olympic champions, world record holders and marathon winners, race organizers are increasingly investing in grassroots participation, sports tourism and cross-border partnerships designed to grow the sport beyond elite competition.
GER noted that Ethiopia and Uganda share not only the mountainous terrain that has helped produce generations of outstanding runners but also a tradition of turning road races into community celebrations involving athletes, families and residents.
Held in Kasese at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon is one of only a handful of African races to hold World Athletics Label status. The event features the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K, attracting participants from across Africa and abroad.
Organizers promote the race as a unique experience that takes runners from the streets of Kasese toward the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains near Queen Elizabeth National Park, blending competition with cultural and tourism opportunities in one of East Africa’s most picturesque regions.
The initiative also highlights a broader shift within African road running. Increasingly, the success of the sport is being measured not only by podium finishes and international medals but also by the strength of regional running communities that connect elite athletes, recreational participants, host cities and event organizers across national borders.
Founded in 2001 by Olympic legend Haile Gebrselassie, the Great Ethiopian Run has grown into Africa’s largest mass-participation road-running organization, staging more than 200 events. In 2025, the organization received the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in recognition of its contribution to athletics and mass-participation running.
GER further expanded its international reach in 2026 through a multi-year partnership with Bank of America, another sign of growing global investment in Africa’s rapidly evolving road-running sector.
Registration for the Aug. 22 Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon is available through the event’s official website.
