Don't Miss the Rwenzori Marathon 2026, The Race That Crosses the Equator in Uganda

We have seen a lot of things in our years running safaris through Uganda. We have watched guests meet mountain gorillas face to face and come back to the vehicle completely silent, unable to find words. We have seen the look on someone's face the first time they spot a lion lounging in a fig tree in Queen Elizabeth National Park. We know what it feels like when a place reaches into you and rearranges something.

The Rwenzori Marathon does that. And on August 22, 2026, it happens againYou should be there.

Why This Race is Different

We know you have options. There are marathons everywhere. Big ones, famous ones, ones with starting corrals the size of small cities and finish line banners you have seen on Instagram a thousand times.

This is not that. The Rwenzori Marathon starts inside Queen Elizabeth National Park as the sun is still rising. You line up at the Equator Monument in Kikorongo and when the gun goes off, you cross the geographical Equator on foot. Behind you, the park. Ahead of you, 42 kilometres of certified tarmac road winding toward Kasese town with the Rwenzori Mountains the Mountains of the Moon, snow on their peaks, ancient and enormous watching you the entire way.

There is no race like this anywhere in the world. Not one. It now carries a World Athletics Label. It is an official qualifier for the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon. Runners came from over 33 countries for the last edition. Within three years of launching it was ranked among the world's 30 best marathons. And yet most runners outside East Africa still do not know it exists. That is about to change. The question is whether you will be part of the year it does.

What Race Weekend Actually Feels Like

Arrive in Kasese a day or two before the race and you will immediately understand that this is not just a sporting event. The whole town transforms. The energy is unlike anything a starting pen in a big city marathon can replicate.

Race morning comes early. The air is cool, the mountains are already visible, and by the time you reach the start line at the Equator Monument you will feel something that is hard to name but easy to recognise. It is the feeling of being somewhere that genuinely matters.

The full marathon takes you through some of the most beautiful running country on the planet. Hydration stations every three to five kilometres. Uganda Red Cross medical teams the full length of the route. And at the finish line in Kasese, a crowd that has been there all morning and is not going anywhere until every last runner comes through.

Every finisher gets a medal made specifically for this race. Prize money from Standard Chartered Bank goes to the top finishers. And then the rest of the day is yours, and Kasese has a lot to offer for the rest of the day.

Pick Your Distance

Not everyone needs to run 42 kilometres to have the experience of a lifetime. There is a category for everyone here.

Full Marathon — 42.195 km | Starts at the Equator Monument inside Queen Elizabeth National Park | Six-hour time limit | This is the one. If your body allows it, do this one.

Half Marathon — 21.1 km | Starts from central Kasese town | Prize money for top finishers | A serious race with a serious atmosphere.

10 km Race — Starts from central Kasese town | Perfect if you are newer to racing or want to bring the whole group along.

Family Fun Run — 5 km | Open to everyone | Because nobody should have to miss this just because they are not a runner.

What It Costs, And Why You Should Register Today

Early bird registration is open right now and it closes July 1, 2026. After that the price goes up and more importantly, availability tightens. Kasese is a small town and race weekend fills it completely. The runners who wait until the last minute are the ones who end up scrambling.

Before July 1: EAC residents — UGX 50,000 International runners — USD 50

From July 1 onwards: EAC residents — UGX 60,000 International runners — USD 60

Register now at rwenzorimarathon.com/registration. You need to be 18 or older. Once you get your confirmation email, keep it, that is your entry.

Come Early. Stay Longer. Uganda Will Reward You for It.

Here is our honest advice: do not fly in, run, and fly out.

Kasese sits at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains a range with permanent glaciers and snow sitting almost exactly on the Equator, with multi-day trekking routes that wind through forests of giant heather and lobelia into a world that feels genuinely untouched. Most people who have run the marathon and then trekked into those mountains describe the combination as one of the best weeks of their lives.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is right there. The marathon literally starts inside it. Stay for a game drive and you will find tree-climbing lions, enormous herds of buffalo, elephants at the water's edge, and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise that at golden hour is one of the most quietly breathtaking things Uganda offers.

And a few hours away, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is where the mountain gorillas live. If you have ever wanted to do a gorilla trek, combining it with the marathon makes perfect sense. We have helped many runners do exactly that, and not one of them has ever wished they had done less.

Uganda is extraordinary right now. Tourism is growing, the wildlife is thriving, and the infrastructure for visitors has never been better. There is a reason the world is paying attention to this country.

The Rwenzori Marathon is a perfect reason to be here. Let it be the beginning of a longer story.

How Soon Do You Need to Move?

Sooner than you think. Here is your timeline:

Register before July 1 to lock in early bird pricing.

Book accommodation immediately. Kasese fills up completely for race weekend and it happens faster than most people expect. If you are planning to stay in or near town during the race, this is not something to leave for later.

Book your flights. August is peak season in Uganda. Entebbe International Airport is the entry point for most international visitors. Fly in with time to adjust, explore, and arrive in Kasese rested and ready.

Get in touch with us now. We put together race and safari packages that handle everything, accommodation, transfers, park permits, gorilla trekking permits if you want them, pre-race logistics, all of it. The earlier you reach out, the more options we have for you.

We Will Take Care of You from the Moment You Land

At Pilama Safaris, this part of Uganda is our home ground. We know how race week works, we know where to stay, we know how to build a trip that gives you the marathon and everything around it without any of the stress.

Tell us how many days you have. Tell us what you want to see beyond the race. We will build it around you.

This race is on August 22. Early bird closes July 1. Accommodation goes before you expect it to.

Do not be the person who finds out about this race the year after you should have been there.

Reach out today and let's get you to Kasese.