Kasese, Uganda
The Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon has completed a full operational review in Kasese, confirming its updated 2026 race course, infrastructure plan, and finish arena ahead of race day on 22 August 2026.
The three-day exercise included official course measurement by World Athletics certified measurer Gavin Wright, conducted using calibrated bicycle counter equipment to centimetre-level accuracy — a requirement of the race's World Athletics Label Road Race status.
The 42 km route
The 2026 marathon route opens with one of the most visually striking stretches in African road racing. From the start at the Equator in Kikorongo, inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, runners cover some 20km along the main road into Kasese — savannah and the distant shimmer of Lake George to their right, the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains rising to their left. It is an unusual opening act for a road race: wide open, elemental, and unlike anything on the global marathon calendar.
Reaching Kasese town at roughly the halfway point of the marathon, the route turns through the town centre before heading up towards the mountains and alongside the Nyamwamba river towards Kilembe Mines. Here the race reveals its other character entirely — the infamous Kilembe climb, with 270 metres of elevation gain that has ended many a runner's ambitious pace plan and made strength training feel suddenly very relevant.
The route then returns to Kasese, where all four distances — 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km — converge at the finish line, the Rwenzori Mountains filling the horizon behind it. The 21km half marathon starts in Kasese Town and joins the marathon route after for it's final 20 kms.
New arena, better infrastructure
Beyond certification, the team mapped the full race operation on the ground. Potential congestion points along the course were identified and planned around. Hydration station locations have been confirmed, marshal positions plotted, and a new infrastructure plan for race day support is in place. The transport and parking plan has also been updated, with dedicated transport arrangements for runners travelling from outside the route area to their respective start lines.
The finish arena is relocating to a new, larger site in Kasese — the first such move in the race's four-year history. The expanded space provides a significantly larger recovery area, a new expo area, and improved facilities for runners and spectators throughout race day.
Early bird is open now!
Registration is open across four distances — 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km. Runners from 10 countries have already signed up, with thousands expected to participate on race day. Early bird pricing is available until 1 July 2026 at www.rwenzorimarathon.com/register.
The Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon holds World Athletics Label Road Race status, placing it among some 200 races globally to meet the organisation's strict standards for course measurement, elite participation, race operations, safety, and timing.
About the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon
Held annually in Kasese, Uganda since 2022, the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon is a World Athletics Label certified destination race. The marathon promotes health, athlete development, tourism, and environmental awareness across the Rwenzori region. Major partners include Uganda Breweries, Standard Chartered Bank, Britam Insurance, Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda, East Africa Motorcenter (KIA), and government partners including the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education & Sports.
