Rwenzori Marathon 2026: A Record Run Through Western Uganda
Leonard Chemonges set a new course record in Kasese, but the Rwenzori Marathon's wider story is the way it connects running with western Uganda's landscapes and journeys.
On 22 August 2026, runners gathered in Kasese for the fifth Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon. The elite race produced a new men's course record, but the event's strongest travel story reaches beyond the finish line.
The full marathon begins at the Equator, follows the road towards Kasese and finishes beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. It is a route that puts western Uganda's geography at the centre of the experience rather than treating the host destination as a backdrop.
Chemonges sets the 2026 pace
Uganda's Leonard Chemonges won the men's marathon in 2:13:25, setting a new course record. Alex Mutai finished eleven seconds later in 2:13:36, with the leading athletes separated by a narrow margin.
Kenya's Margaret Jepchumba won the women's marathon in 2:39:15. Uganda's Vanice Chemutai placed second in 2:43:32, followed by Joan Chebet in 2:44:08.
These are the official World Athletics results. They correct the small timing and spelling differences that appeared across early race reports.
A race designed around place
The 42.2-kilometre course starts at the Equator on the Kasese–Mbarara road before moving towards Kasese town and the foothills of the Rwenzoris. The official route is on tarmac, with an elevation gain listed at 410 metres.
The event also offers a 21.1-kilometre half marathon, a 10-kilometre run and a five-kilometre Vibes Run. Each distance creates a different way to participate, although entry rules and future race details should always be checked with the organiser.
For 2026, the marathon carried World Athletics Label Road Race status. The organiser describes it as Uganda's only labelled road race and one of three in East Africa. It is also listed as an official qualifier for the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons, subject to the receiving event's own entry requirements.
Why Kasese works as more than a race venue
Kasese sits between some of western Uganda's most distinctive landscapes. The Rwenzori range rises to the north and west. Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Equator and the crater country connect naturally with the road journey.
That makes the marathon useful for destination marketing because the route is not separate from the region. Runners cross a geographical landmark and finish in a town that can act as a base for a wider journey.
The opportunity is strongest when visitors are encouraged to stay rather than arrive, race and leave.
How to extend the journey
A post-race itinerary should respect recovery time. A demanding race followed immediately by a long transfer or tightly scheduled activity may look efficient on paper but feel very different in practice.
Depending on the traveller's interests and available days, a western Uganda extension could include:
- a restorative day in or near Kasese;
- a game drive or Kazinga Channel boat experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park;
- a crater-lake journey through the Fort Portal region;
- chimpanzee tracking in Kibale after sufficient recovery; or
- a longer continuation towards Bwindi for gorilla trekking.
The order should be designed around the runner's condition, park permits and realistic road time. A flight through Kasese Airfield may also suit some itineraries, subject to the service operating on the required date.
Explore Uganda's wider safari possibilities.
What future runners should plan early
Race registration is only one part of the journey. Accommodation in and around Kasese can become limited during event week, and road controls affect race-day movement.
International runners should align several arrangements:
- confirmed race entry and kit collection;
- accommodation close to the appropriate transport point;
- arrival time that allows rest before the race;
- medical and travel-insurance preparation;
- race-day transfers and road-closure guidance; and
- a post-race itinerary with enough recovery space.
Future dates, start times, entry conditions and route arrangements may change. These should be checked with the official marathon before flights or safari services are confirmed.
Sport can open a different door to Uganda
Not every visitor first imagines Uganda through a traditional safari. Some arrive for a race, a conference, coffee or a cultural event, then discover how close those interests sit to national parks and regional landscapes.
The Rwenzori Marathon works because running and place are connected. The Equator, Kasese and the mountain skyline remain part of the memory alongside the finishing time.
For Signature Africa, the opportunity is to turn that event visit into a well-paced journey—without exhausting the traveller or treating western Uganda as a collection of hurried add-ons.
Ask us to build a future Rwenzori Marathon journey, including accommodation, race logistics, recovery time and a western Uganda safari extension.