Marathons in Uganda 2026: schedule, registration and routes
The Rwenzori Marathon’s 22 August 2026 results remain historical; the Coffee Marathon organizer now lists a 13 February 2027 race, while Rwenzori’s sixth-edition date is still TBD.
As checked on 20 October 2026, the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon remains the clearest organizer-confirmed Uganda marathon for 2026: it was held in Kasese on 22 August and its results are linked from the official site. For 2027, the Coffee Marathon organizer lists 13 February at Africa Coffee Park in Ntungamo, while the Rwenzori organizer confirms a sixth edition but has not announced its date. I found no official 2027 date for the MTN Kampala Marathon in the MTN source checked.
That is a status check, not proof that an unverified event was cancelled. “Uganda marathon 2026” searches often combine road races, half marathons, 10K events and community runs. Check the exact distance and organizer before booking. For a confirmed Kampala community run in 2026, see the separate Kabaka Birthday Run guide; it is not a full marathon.
2026 status: Rwenzori’s 22 August event and results are linked by the organizer; missing MTN or Coffee evidence is marked unverified, not cancelled.
2027 status — checked 20 October 2026: Coffee Marathon Uganda is listed for 13 February at Africa Coffee Park, Ntungamo, with 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km categories. Rwenzori’s sixth edition is confirmed for 2027, but the organizer says its date is still TBD. No official MTN Kampala Marathon 2027 date was found in the MTN source checked.
Uganda marathon calendar 2026: confirmed and unverified listings
| Event | 2026 evidence captured | What to verify before relying on a listing |
|---|---|---|
| Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon | Official organizer listed 22 August 2026 in Kasese; results link published after the race | Distance, category, future registration dates and the current route notice |
| Independence Marathon | Official site stated the 2026 race had finished | The date, course, distance and results from the organizer’s result page |
| MTN Kampala Marathon | No official 2026 date or entry notice verified in the captured MTN sources | Whether an edition is announced, official organizer, date, route and entry terms |
| Coffee Marathon Uganda | Official results archive listed 2025 results; its site also showed a 2027 event listing | Whether a 2026 edition took place and any official results, fees or course details |
| Uganda International Marathon | No organizer-primary 2026 date and route evidence captured for this guide | Organizer announcement and official registration page |
This table deliberately separates “confirmed” from “not verified.” An event missing from a captured page may have been announced elsewhere or held under a different name. Recheck the organizer’s official site and the Uganda Athletics calendar rather than treating absence as cancellation.
Rwenzori Marathon: 22 August 2026, Kasese
The official Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon site lists 22 August 2026 in Kasese and links to a results platform. Its event information page describes four distances: 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km. The event page says the full marathon starts at the Equator on the Kasese–Mbarara highway, with shuttle transport from the arena to the start; the 21km, 10km and 5km start on Rwenzori Street near the arena. All races finish at the Arena on Stanley Street in Kasese.
These are organizer-published details for the 2026 event, not a route guarantee for 2027. The same event page says the highway section between the Equator at Kikorongo and Kasese Airfield is closed from 4am until midday to secure the route. It described race start times as “TBA (around sunrise).” Do not convert “around sunrise” into a precise start time. For any future edition, use the latest race guide because transport pickup, road closures, start times and course instructions can change.
The event site describes the race as a World Athletics Label Road Race and says it is professionally timed by FinishTime. World Athletics’ results page lists the 2026 competition; the men’s marathon winner was Leonard Chemonges in 2:13:25. Use the World Athletics results record for that performance rather than transferring it to a different distance or race. A 42km marathon time is not directly comparable with a half-marathon result.
The organizer’s page includes entry information, but the event has passed as of 20 October 2026. Its posted 2026 terms, fee and any late-entry instructions should not be treated as open registration now. The homepage points visitors to 2027; check the future edition’s own entry page for current fees and availability.
The organizer’s 2027 registration page now says the sixth edition is planned for 2027, that registration is closed, and that the date is “TBD.” It says the date and registration will be announced soon. This confirms the edition year, not a race date, course, fee or registration window. Keep the 22 August 2026 route and entry terms tied to that completed edition.
MTN Kampala Marathon: verify the 2026 edition before planning
The MTN Kampala Marathon is a well-known event name, but the sources captured for this guide did not establish an official 2026 date, registration window, course map or results. The MTN Uganda news page captured for this check reports the 2022 edition and does not confirm a 2027 race. An older press statement or a social post from a past year cannot confirm a current edition.
If an MTN Kampala Marathon announcement appears, verify it through MTN Uganda’s own news site and the organizer’s live registration page. Check whether the announcement refers to the same event name, the current year, and the exact race category. Confirm the venue, distance options, kit collection dates, road closures, payment method and refund terms from that edition’s official instructions. Until a 2027 notice is published, do not repeat a date, fee or route from an older edition as if it applied to the next race.
This is particularly important for “MTN Kampala Marathon 2026 results” searches. A past MTN race archive may appear before a new edition’s page in search results. Confirm the year on the results file and the event organizer before attributing a winner or time.
Coffee Marathon Uganda: 2026 evidence gap and confirmed 2027 listing
The Coffee Marathon official results page links to the 2025 results archive, but the sources captured for this guide did not verify a 2026 race date or results. That is an evidence gap, not proof that no 2026 activity occurred.
The organizer’s 2027 homepage lists the event for 13 February 2027 at Africa Coffee Park, Ntungamo, Uganda. It names the theme “Sip & Run, Fueling the Future” and lists 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km categories. These are the published 2027 details; the capture did not verify a registration fee, full course map, start time or 2027 results. Do not transfer the 2025 results archive or any prior route and price to the 2027 edition.
The 2025 results page links to Athlinks, its stated results host. If you are comparing a 2025 time with another event, check the athlete, category, distance and course, and use the official result file. The organizer’s current page is the authority for later entry requirements and any changes.
Independence and other Uganda road races
The Independence Marathon site stated that the 2026 race had finished and directed visitors to results and race-photo updates. The captured homepage did not provide enough detail to verify the race date, exact distance, route or winning times for this guide. Use the event’s own results page before publishing those figures.
When a third-party race calendar lists an event, use it to discover the race, not as final proof of registration details. Confirm the organizer, exact race title, race date, location, measured distance, start and finish, timing provider, registration policy and results source. In Uganda, a “marathon weekend” may offer a full marathon alongside a half marathon and shorter races; a participant registered for a 5km or 10km event has not entered a marathon.
The Uganda Athletics events calendar is useful for federation meets and national trials. It is not necessarily a complete directory of every privately organized road race. Likewise, the Rwenzori Marathon is not a UAF national trial merely because it is an athletics event. Check the organizer’s page for participant entry and the federation calendar for federation competition status.
Marathon distance and finish-time context
A full marathon is 42.195km; a half marathon is 21.0975km. “How long does it take to run a 42km marathon?” has no single useful answer without a runner, course and conditions. Use the pace calculation elapsed time ÷ distance: a four-hour marathon is about 5:41 per kilometre, while a two-hour half marathon is about 5:41 per kilometre over 21.0975km. These are arithmetic examples, not a performance ranking or a prediction.
Whether two hours is “good” for 21km depends on the runner’s experience, age, training, course, weather and purpose. Compare the time with the runner’s own past result or a relevant race category, not with the 2:13:25 men’s Rwenzori marathon result captured for 2026. The latter is a full-marathon elite result; the distance and athlete population differ. For a personal training target or health concern, seek qualified coaching or medical guidance.
Searches for a free marathon or “marathons in Uganda 2026 PDF” need a source check too. The sources reviewed did not verify a 2026 race as free or a single official calendar PDF listing every road race. Confirm entry cost and calendar status from each organizer. A free public festival or shorter fun run is not automatically a free marathon entry.
How to choose a 2026 or future race safely
- Confirm the edition year. Check the year in the race page and registration form, not just in the search result title.
- Read the exact distance. Distinguish 42km, 21km, 10km, 5km and any other categories; a race weekend can contain several.
- Check the route map and surface. Confirm where the race begins and ends, elevation or terrain notes, road closures and shuttle arrangements.
- Use the organizer’s entry page. Verify the entry fee, deadline, payment channel, confirmation process, kit pickup and refund terms.
- Confirm the timing and results source. Find out whether results are chip-timed, manually recorded, or published by a named timing company.
- Recheck close to race day. Weather, road works, transport and public safety can change logistics after registration opens.
- Keep your proof. Save the organizer’s race instructions, registration receipt, bib number and the official result link.
For an event that has already passed, the questions change: find the published results, confirm that the category is correct, and use the organizer or timing provider as the source of record. Do not infer finishing times from photographs or unofficial social-media posts.
Frequently asked questions
Which Uganda marathon was held in 2026?
The Rwenzori Marathon is confirmed by its organizer for 22 August 2026 in Kasese, with an official results link. The Independence Marathon site also stated that its 2026 race had finished, but the captured page did not show complete date and results details.
Was there an MTN Kampala Marathon in 2026?
The research captured for this guide did not verify an official MTN 2026 date, route, registration or result page. Check MTN Uganda’s current announcement; do not use an old edition’s details as confirmation.
Was there a Coffee Marathon in 2026?
The official results archive showed 2025 results, but no verified 2026 schedule or results were captured. That is an evidence gap, not proof of cancellation. The organizer separately lists a 13 February 2027 event.
When is the 2027 Coffee Marathon Uganda?
The organizer lists 13 February 2027 at Africa Coffee Park in Ntungamo, with 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km categories. Its published theme is “Sip & Run, Fueling the Future.” Check the official page for any later changes to registration or race logistics.
When is the 2027 Rwenzori Marathon?
The organizer confirms its sixth edition for 2027, but its registration page says the date is TBD and registration is closed until a later announcement. The 2026 date and route do not establish the 2027 schedule.
What is the Rwenzori Marathon route?
The organizer’s 2026 event page says the 42km starts at the Equator on the Kasese–Mbarara highway and finishes at the Arena in Kasese. The shorter 21km, 10km and 5km races start on Rwenzori Street and also finish at the Arena. Recheck the route for the next edition.
Where can I find Uganda marathon results?
Use the event organizer’s results page or its named timing provider. The Rwenzori site links to its result service and World Athletics lists the 2026 results. Confirm the athlete and distance before quoting a time.
Is the Kabaka Birthday Run a marathon?
The 2026 Kabaka Birthday Run is a separate community running event. The sources reviewed here do not establish that it included a full marathon distance. Check its own event guide for the distances and route.
Conclusion and responsible race planning
For 2026, use Rwenzori’s organizer and results pages for the confirmed date, route and result. For 2027, the Coffee Marathon has a published date and categories, while Rwenzori’s sixth edition is confirmed but still has no date; no official MTN Kampala Marathon 2027 date was found in the source checked. Recheck each organizer’s route, registration window, transport plan and road closures before payment or travel. A schedule page is evidence, not an entry confirmation, and race results should always be tied to the correct distance and year.
Sources and evidence limits
Firecrawl sources were captured on 20 October 2026. Primary event sources include the Rwenzori Marathon homepage, its 2027 registration page, its event information page, World Athletics results, the Coffee Marathon 2027 homepage, its results archive, the Independence Marathon site, the Uganda Athletics events calendar, and MTN Uganda’s 2022 Kampala Marathon announcement. No official Coffee Marathon 2026 schedule or results were verified; no 2027 date was found in the MTN source checked.