The maiden Absa KH3 – 7 Hills Run was bound to be successful after the kits sold out a day before the event. The pre-event campaign was massive and runners (elite and recreational) looked forward to the event.
On the D-Day, the event which was blessed by clear morning skies attracted over 2,500 runners. The event was organized by Absa Bank Uganda in partnership with the Kampala Hash House Harriers.
The run featured 6km and 21km routes, starting from Kingdom Kampala on Nile Avenue and saw both individual runners and corporate entities tackle the iconic seven hills of Kampala.
The run was flagged off by the Executive Director, Kampala City Council Authority, Dorothy Kisaka alongside Michael Segwaya, Absa Bank Uganda’s Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer and Leonard Mugizi the Hash Mash of the Kampala Hash House Harriers.
While addressing media at the event, Michael Segwaya, Absa Bank Uganda’s Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer, reaffirmed that the funds raised from the event will go towards key initiatives to keep the girl child in school through various initiatives.
“Coming from COVID-19, the challenges the girl child faced were serious. We have a community that is responsible which put this initiative together and we have been collecting money for girl child education, we are very honored and excited” Segwaya said adding that such events also keep the community fit and well.
Segwaya was blown away with the massive turn up for the run and says that they will anticipate a high demand in the next edition and plan accordingly.
“The turn up was amazing being our inaugural run it was amazing and we actually ran out of kits and clear we need to anticipate the demands better next time,” Segwaya noted adding that there’ll pick learning points heading into the next edition.
Efforts are already underway by Absa Bank to skill over 500 teenage mothers enabling them to become self sufficient and develop income generating activities. There are also key initiatives to keep the girl child in school through providing skills training to teenage mothers to enable them to earn a sustainable living and by strengthening menstrual hygiene management to deter school absenteeism and reduce dropout rates among girls.
The run also coincided with World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which seeks to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) by breaking the silence, raising awareness and changing negative social norms around MHH and engaging decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels.
While speaking on behalf of the Kampala Hash House Harriers (KHHH), Mugizi Hash Master of the Club, said, “This run complements several other initiatives established by the Kampala Hash House Harriers to try and leverage our passion for fitness and living a healthy lifestyle to leave a positive impact on Uganda, and we appreciate Absa bank Uganda for their coming on board with a noble cause.”
The run marks the commencement of a 3-year partnership between Absa Bank Uganda and the KHHH geared towards promoting physical wellness.
The event was capped by entertainment from local female artists Vinka and Sheebah who impressed the large crowd moments after the cool-down session.
