David GOMBE
1000’s of Ugandans have as quickly as as soon as extra confirmed up in huge numbers in Lubiri-Mengo (Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo) to participate inside the thirteenth model of the extraordinarily anticipated Kabaka Birthday Run. This 12 months’s run marks Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s 71st birthday.
In an attention-grabbing take, Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar graced this 12 months’s run, collaborating inside the 10km run, as a gift of true sportsmanship and recognition for the partnership between Buganda Kingdom and Airtel Uganda. Taldar moreover handed over a package deal to the Kabaka for the run.
The run, themed “Males for Good Effectively being to Save the Girl Teenager and the Fight to End HIV/AIDS by 2030,” calls on males to take a primary place inside the fight in opposition to HIV/AIDS.
Since its inception in 2014, the Airtel Kabaka Birthday Run has emerged as definitely considered one of Uganda’s largest annual runs, championing properly being causes resembling sickle cell consciousness, fistula prevention, and now the fight in opposition to HIV/AIDS. It’s normally among the many many largest distinctive charity runs globally.
Taldar, shared his enthusiasm for collaborating inside the run and lauded Ugandans for his or her continued assist inside the fight to complete HIV/AIDS.
“Since I arrived on this pretty nation, I’ve been hit with a wave of nostalgia. Ugandans are very glad and hospitable people; they encourage you to belong. It’s inspiring to see 1000’s of Ugandans unite in such good numbers, for a noble set off, HIV/AIDS, for which practically every family has a scar. Each definitely considered one of us is true right here to make historic previous as people in considered one of many best efforts aimed towards eliminating HIV/AIDS in Uganda by 2030. Our strong partnership with the Buganda Kingdom reaffirms our dedication to Uganda’s sustainable properly being development. Collectively, we’ll take away HIV/AIDS by 2030,” he said.
The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, echoed the theme for this 12 months’s run, reminding Ugandans of their place inside the fight in opposition to HIV/AIDS:
“This 12 months, our key message could also be very clear: Males for Good Effectively being to Save the Girl Teenager and the Fight to End HIV/AIDS by 2030”. The Kabaka Birthday Run isn’t merely a celebration of His Majesty’s birthday, nonetheless a wake-up identify to intensify our efforts inside the fight for larger properly being in Uganda. We admire our long-time companion, Airtel Uganda, whose continued assist has been instrumental in making an precise distinction inside the fight in opposition to HIV/AIDS.”
By the use of continued advocacy initiatives such as a result of the Kabaka Birthday Run, Uganda may make common progress within the route of reaching an AIDS-free period.
“As Airtel Uganda, we keep devoted to initiatives that positively impression the lives of Ugandans inside and previous the Kingdom. The fight in opposition to HIV/AIDS requires collective movement, and we’re proud to face with the Buganda Kingdom and all Ugandans on this noble set off,” Taldar concluded.
According to the Uganda AIDS Price, roughly 1.4–1.5 million Ugandans reside with HIV, with an grownup prevalence cost of about 4.9%–5.4%. Whereas AIDS-related deaths have declined to about 20,000 yearly, representing a 64% drop since 2010, an estimated 37,000 new infections are recorded yearly. This highlights the need for continued consciousness, pr evention, care, and remedy efforts to complete HIV/AIDS.
