Athletics: Run to Stop Gender Based Violence
Even before the digital era, people not only ladies and children but also men have been facing a number of gender based violence and many went uncalled for.
When it comes to ghetto or slum areas, it’s even worse in these modern era, however, they are hub of talents, Kawempe Division a suburb of Kampala City is am the areas that has many slum areas, ghetto youths but talented different disciplines.
Basing on that background, a philanthropist and an Athlete based in United Kingdom, Abdul Ssemujju came out to organize a one day run with the theme of Stopping Gender Based Violence and to identify talents in the Athletics discipline.
The run code-named the Kawempe Mile race has been organized this Saturday, 26th February 2022 at Blend Gardens in Bwaise.
The official launch of the run was held on Thursday, 24th February 2022.
Shifa Nakaweesi, representing Ssemujju addressed the media flanked by Uganda Athletics Federation coach Moses Asonya.
“The Kawempe Mile race is aimed at stopping violence in the fight against gender based violence and abuse in sports” Nakaweesi remarked.
Asonya believes that the Kawempe Mile will inspire many kids and adults to take upon middle distance running.
“The Kawempe Mile will inspire many kids and adults all around Uganda to take up middle distance running all the way to 400m. We have a lot of talent that goes to waste in these distances. Many athletes think of going straight to cross country, road racing, or the 5000m and 10000m but there’s a lot of talent if nurtured well or shown the light that could tap into their full potential.” Asonya remarked.
Moses Asonya, Uganda Athletics Federation coach
Shifa Nakaweesi, organizer of Kawempe Mile Race
Nakaweesi believes that the Kawempe Mile will help uplift athletes in Kawempe division.
“Kawempe has always had plenty of talented footballers, netballers, boxers, volleyball players. The Kawempe Mile is a big boost to the division. Kawempe is a also capable of producing world class athletes but there’s never been a race or a big athletics event to attract or inspire many of the ghetto kids to the sport of athletics” Nakweesi added.
The senior winners will take home a cash reward of Shs. 1,000,000 each.
Entry for all participants is free of charge.