Gender based violence is one of the biggest challenges facing our communities, regardless of age, background or social status.
For more than two decades, the Kids of Africa Run has brought together Ugandans of different ages and backgrounds to raise awareness and support causes affecting communities across the country, including sanitation and menstrual health.
Speaking during this year’s Kids of Africa Run 2026,Tage Budolfsen also founder of the Kids of Africa Swiss Village, said this year’s run focused on gender-based violence and call for public awareness action.
Gender based violence is one of the biggest challenges facing our communities & through the Kids of Africa Run, we want to create a platform that will address this challenge, Budolfsen said.
This year’s fun run attracted over one thousand runners including beauty queens, corporate managers & young people, coming up for real cause against GBV in our local communities & work places.
This year’s run saw several beauty queens including Miss Tourism Ahabwa Daphine also student at Kampala,Miss Tourism Kyomugisha Angel also student at Uganda Christian University,Miss Teen Dorothy Asekenya also student at Jinja secondary school,Miss Teen Annabelle Muwanguzi also student at Rubaga Girls Secondary plus Miss Teen Natasha Phoebe Tooko also student at St James Secondary School.
Esbern Budolfsen also race director of the Kids of Africa run stressed the urgency of addressing GBV and called on the public to support the cause.
Esbern Budolfsen thanked several corporate companies & sponsors for joining hands to supportting this year’s charity run & included Sheraton Hotel, Kisubi Hospital, Sai Pali institute of Science and Technology, Roko Construction, I&M Bank, Flora Events, Umoja women group, Eden Fitness Gym, Divine Esthetics, Swans Group club, Miss Tourism Teso, SEMBEZA Africa, CORSU, Chrysm Digital Solutions and Yako Bank.
Muwanguzi Annabelle also Miss Teen Uganda flagged off the 5kms run with lots of young people rallying behind her for the real cause against GBV & thanks all sponsors to supporting this year’s Kids of Africa Run.
The fun run attracted hundreds of young people including Veera Bulyerare(5yrs) also pupil World light nursery school,Gisubizo Welrome(7yrs) also pupil at All Nations primary school plus Asgar Manzoor also pupil at Harmony Elementary.
Meanwhile in the 21 km race, Mejok Yach Wol Koon emerged as the lead runner in the Male 18+ category, completing the course in 1:33:16.6 while Felix Ayikko won the Male 18 to 34 category in 31:28.4 and Julius Drake Lung topped the Male 13 to 17 category in 37:16.0.
Joseph Wafula won the Male 35 to 49 category in 44:43.0, with Majid Izale Abdul taking the Male 50+ category in 39:12.0 while Agnes Anero was the leading female runner in the 18 to 34 categories, finishing in 51:01.5.
The age group races also delivered notable performances from younger and older runners.
Henry Mutebi won the Male 35 to 49 category in 17:07.9, while Hakim Ddumba topped the Male 50+ category in 21:44.2 while among the younger female runners, Joan Jemimah won the Under 12 category in 20:58.7, while Fatuma Akello took the Female 13 to 17 category in 18:12.0.
Joan Akankwatsa emerged as the winner of the Female 18 to 34 category in 18:33.6 & Lilly Grace Acan was the leading runner in the Female 50+ category, completing her race in 27:07.6.
Kids of Africa has previously supported schools in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District including construction of modern toilets & promoting sanitation in the near by communities.
