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The Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC), in partnership with the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), has committed more than Shs 2.5 billion towards a new Nutrition for Sports initiative aimed at enhancing athlete performance and promoting healthy lifestyles.
The announcement was made on Friday during the unveiling of artistic designs for BIRDC’s proposed banana processing factory at Mwesigwa Resort in Kibega. The facility, which will be built in Rwebitete, Kiruhura district, is projected to cost more than Shs 200 billion and will sit on 402 acres.
Timothy Masaba, sports managing officer, said organisers are seeking to raise Shs 4.47 billion for the inaugural Olympic Day Tooke Run in Bushenyi district. Of this amount, Shs 2.5 billion will fund the Nutrition for Sports legacy programme, while Shs 1.97 billion will go towards organising the run.
Prof Florence Isabirye Muranga, the director general of BIRDC, said the partnership seeks to bridge sports and nutrition in a bid to promote innovation, public health and national development.
She noted that proper nutrition, particularly during early childhood, is essential for nurturing future generations and unlocking sporting potential. According to Muranga, the Tooke Run is expected to become an annual flagship event aimed at raising awareness about the role of nutrition in sports performance and youth development.
“This initiative is focused on building a healthier nation, a stronger sports sector, and a more resilient agricultural economy,” she said.
Representing Uganda Olympic Committee president Dr Donald Rukare, UOC secretary general Lydia Dhamuzungu said the partnership is anchored in the Olympic values of excellence and respect, which extend beyond sport to community transformation and nation-building.
She described nutrition as a critical pillar of sporting success.
“Proper nutrition fuels endurance, sharpens focus, accelerates recovery, and extends athletic careers. Without it, talent alone cannot carry an athlete to the podium,” Dhamuzungu said.
Retired gold medalist Moses Kipisiro welcomed the initiative, saying many athletes have gone through their careers without adequate nutritional support and guidance.
He also applauded the decision to host the Olympic Day Run in western Uganda, noting that the region’s high altitude provides favourable conditions for long-distance running, similar to the Sebei sub-region, which has produced many of Uganda’s elite athletes.
“Western Uganda has talented athletes, but many have not received the necessary support and exposure. In Sebei, athletics has become a livelihood. We need to encourage the young generation in Bushenyi and beyond to embrace athletics as a pathway to success and national development,” Kipisiro said.
The inaugural Bushenyi Olympic Day Tooke Run is scheduled for June 20, 2026. The event will feature a 21-kilometre half marathon, a 10-kilometre race, a five-kilometre race and a 120-metre sprint competition with cash prizes.
Related
, https://observer.ug/sports/uoc-birdc-commit-shs-2-5bn-to-sports-nutrition-initiative/
