The collaboration between DFCU Bank and President’s Office notably supported the 2nd Urban Refugee Marathon in Kampala, an initiative aimed at uniting refugees and host communities to foster social integration, solidarity, and collective advocacy for refugee rights and welfare.
Over 10,000 participants, including refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ugandan nationals, took part in the 2nd edition of this marathon.
Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and East African Affairs Minister, highlighted the Urban Refugee Marathon as a vital initiative promoting unity between refugees and host communities to foster peaceful and prosperous coexistence. At the flag-off event held at Old Kampala Secondary School for the marathon’s second edition, she emphasized how the event brings refugees and Ugandans together to demonstrate cooperation, challenging misconceptions about refugees causing social and economic problems.
“This marathon brings them together with the Ugandan community to see that they are working together, living together and progressing together. Worldwide, we are the highest refugee hosting nation in the word. So, we are different from other people. We are very welcoming and we don’t just keep them in camps. We allow them to live In the community, to work and earn their living. So, that’s the difference we have between us and the way other countries manage the refugees.”
Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, Senior Diaspora Affairs Advisor to the President, reiterated the marathon’s role in promoting solidarity, describing refugees as integral brothers and sisters in the Ugandan community.
He emphasized that President Museveni, as Chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council, champions Pan-Africanism and unity with the principle of “United as One Africa”, thus the marathon aimed to highlight and give visibility to refugees.
“The marathon is to spread the word of unity, the word of togetherness, and for them to know that Ugandans, we are together, we love our brothers and sisters from different countries who are known as refugees.”
Fikru Abebe, CEO of African Initiatives for Relief and Development, spoke about ongoing efforts to improve refugee integration, including shelter, clean water, transportation, and food supply.
Emmanuel Walani, Undersecretary in the President’s Office, assured continuous government protection for refugees to ensure their stay—whether temporary or permanent—is peaceful and secure.
Additionally, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit pledged to fight corruption in refugee documentation and service delivery, protecting refugees from exploitation.
Looking ahead, plans for the next edition of related events focus on upcountry resettlement areas and will include a cultural gala, and an interministerial refugee conference to ensure continued multilateral approach involving various government sectors.
DFCU Bank was among the key sponsors supporting this initiative alongside other financial institutions and organizations, including Faras, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Gonder Shalom Limited, Uganda Police Force, NIRA, URA, Gender & Labour Ministry, IOM, UNHCR, Uganda Red Cross Society, among others.
This marathon underscored Uganda’s leadership in refugee inclusion within Africa and globally, promoting coexistence and national development through shared community participation supported by institutions like DFCU Bank and the President’s Office.
