Half marathon runner Abel Chebet, winner of the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon 21km race for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), is aiming for a hat-trick when the event returns on August 23, 2025, in Kasese.
Alongside many other athletes from local clubs in Bukwo, Chebet, who runs for Uganda Police Athletics Club, trains daily, pounding out different distances, following a strict schedule. He’s part of a large cast of runners from the Sebei region set to grace the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon, which is marking its fourth staging this year.
This year alone, Chebet has claimed first place at the Gulu Marathon in January, the Mbarara City Marathon in March, and the Coffee Marathon in Ntungamo in May. In between, he secured second place at the national cross-country event in Tororo in February.
After recent wins at local events, Chebet is full of confidence as he goes for a third straight victory in Kasese. It would be a big moment for him and a strong step toward his next goal of running a full marathon in 2026.
“I’m focused and ready for the challenge. Winning the 21km race at the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon three times in a row would mean a lot to me and give me the confidence to take on the full marathon next year,” Chebet said. “I’m excited to show what I can do.”
With a quiet smile, he says, “We train hard so we can win easy.”
With few local competitions around, Chebet, 32, intends to maximise the exposure and competitive advantage offered by the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon, the only World Athletics certified race event in the country.
With the likes of Abel Chelangat benefiting from the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon’s exposure, Chebet, inspired by local heroes, Moses Kipsiro and Stephen Kiprotich, says his motivation comes from his roots.
“I draw my strength from training in Bukwo and from the great runners in my community,” Chebet said. “The athletic spirit of the Sebei region pushes me every day to work harder and aim higher.”
The Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon is the biggest race in the country, and being part of it means a lot to him. The route is beautiful but tough, winding through varying altitudes. For Chebet, it’s also where he found his footing.
“This race put me on the map,” Chebet says. “It gave me a platform to prove myself. Now I want to try the full marathon and see how far I can go.”
Denise Paula Nazzinda, the Brand Manager for Tusker Lite at Uganda Breweries Limited, says Chebet’s quest for a hat trick mirrors the brand’s attribute of celebrating active individuals unapologetically breaking boundaries.
She adds that the marathon has given athletes a chance to dream bigger, especially with the global certification it received last year, which has significantly boosted the event’s credibility and attracted greater athlete participation.
“We’ve seen athletes go on to compete in global events after participating in the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon, which has helped raise their profiles and enhance their performance at various levels,” Nazzinda said.
The 2025 Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon stands to be its most impressive edition yet: nearly 6,000 runners from up to 50 countries, heightened global and government engagement, eco-conscious operations, vibrant race events, and major impacts on local economic and tourism horizons.
