It’s been just over a year since long-distance runner Abel Chelangat won the 2024 Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon in Kasese, and he continues to reap the benefits beyond the prize money he received at the time.
The World Athletics-certified Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon played a pivotal role in Chelangat’s inspiring journey from the rural Bukwo District in Eastern Uganda to the global stage, where he continues to achieve great success, fulfilling the marathon’s mission to uplift athletes.
Within the space of one year, Chelangat, who was spotted by Adidas Running representatives in Kasese and provided with the resources and exposure to compete internationally, has so far competed and impressed at the Porto Marathon in November 2024, the Riyadh Marathon in February 2025, Rabat Marathon in April, among others.
Chelangat’s latest impressive performance was at the recently concluded World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he finished fifth with a time of 2:10:11, just over four minutes behind his winning time at the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon.
It was Chelangat’s first time at the Worlds, and despite being destined for glory on debut, circumstances made him finish fifth, earning prize money worth US$11,000 (approximately Shs 40 million), which was part of the championship’s prize money pot of US$8,498,000.
Chelangat was in the lead with a kilometre to go, only for the body to give way. It was Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu who triumphed, having outsprinted Germany’s Amanol Petros in the closing stages to finish just 0.03 seconds ahead inside the Japan National Stadium.
Chelangat was only informed two weeks before the Worlds that he would compete in the marathon event, and despite the short notice and limited preparation time, he managed to deliver a remarkable performance.
Chelangat was one of the 1992 athletes from 193 different countries and the Athlete Refugee Team who took part in the event. Beyond the many magnificent performances on the track, field, and road, the championships achieved record reach as the most widely covered and impactful World Championships in history.
For Chelangat, the prize money in Tokyo will go a long way in supporting his training and livelihood, as he has used the ones from recent events to make investments, improve his living conditions, access better training facilities, and support his family.
Denise Nazzinda, the Brand Manager – Premium Beers at Uganda Breweries Limited, says that Chelangat’s continued rise and success from the World Athletics Championships reflects one of Tusker Lite’s Mt. Rwenzori Marathon’s key pillars of identifying local talent while also building Uganda’s running community.
“Chelangat’s strong showing at the World Athletics Championships is a clear reflection of the opportunities created through the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon. It’s encouraging to see the impact of our efforts in identifying and supporting homegrown talent translating to results on the world stage,” said Nazzinda.
Chelangat’s journey is just one of many inspiring stories to come out of the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon since it began in 2022.
The 2025 edition of the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon happened in August this year and attracted thousands of participants from across the world.
Beyond the finish line, the event reinforces Tusker Lite’s role in supporting community, movement, and progress, while boosting the local economy in Kasese through tourism, hospitality, and small businesses.
