Elite runners at the fifth Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon were set to compete for a record UGX252 million after organisers nearly tripled the event’s total prize purse.
The amount increased from UGX92 million in 2025, giving the 2026 edition the largest prize fund offered by a marathon in Uganda.
Organisers said the increase was designed to attract leading runners from Uganda, East Africa and other international markets while giving local athletes an opportunity to compete for substantial rewards at home.
The announcement followed the marathon’s attainment of World Athletics Label Road Race status and inclusion on the World Athletics calendar.
Full-marathon prizes
The winners of the men’s and women’s 42km races were each allocated UGX40 million.
Second-place finishers would receive UGX20 million, with UGX10 million going to third place. Fourth, fifth and sixth place attracted UGX8 million, UGX6 million and UGX4 million respectively.
Half-marathon prizes
The men’s and women’s 21km champions were each set to receive UGX15 million.
Second place came with UGX10 million, third place UGX6 million and fourth place UGX4 million. Fifth and sixth place carried awards of UGX2 million and UGX1 million respectively.
The same prize structure applied to male and female athletes at every position.
Tusker Lite Brand Manager Sandra Againe said the improved purse reflected how far the race had progressed over its five editions and provided runners with another strong incentive to compete in Kasese.
Approximately 8,000 runners were expected to participate in the fifth-anniversary event, with athletes from 26 countries registered ahead of race day.
Marathon chief executive Collin Masiga said only a small number of places remained available as the event approached capacity.
