Uganda Baati Joins Gulu City Marathon 2026 to Bolster HIV Awareness, Community Health

What the report says

Organisers of the Gulu City Marathon have launched the 2026 edition, set for Saturday, December 5, at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City, with a stronger emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness and community health. The event, now in its third World Athletics-certified edition, is being presented not only as a road race but also as a platform for cultural celebration, tourism promotion and regional development in Northern Uganda.

The marathon will include a full marathon, half marathon, 10km race, 5km fun run and a wheelchair race. Registration is open, and organisers say they are aiming for higher participation than in previous years. Francis Gimara, the convener and national chairperson, said the event is meant to showcase Gulu and the wider region as a place of resilience, enterprise and opportunity.

A major part of the 2026 plans is the continued involvement of Uganda Baati through its corporate social responsibility arm, the Safal Uganda Baati Foundation. The company said it will expand its health outreach with a focus on HIV/AIDS awareness. That follows the 2025 edition, when its free medical camp reportedly served more than 4,000 people. Uganda Baati has also been a longstanding platinum sponsor of the marathon.

Other supporters named in the report include CFAO Mobility and the Rotary Club of Kampala. The organisers say the marathon combines athletics with Acholi cultural performances and social enterprise, reflecting a broader effort to promote health, local business and tourism in Northern Uganda.