THREE national athletics clubs will send representatives to the 5th edition of the MTN Kampala marathon set for November 23 in neighboring Uganda.

The Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) Technical Director Emmanuel Murenzi told Times Sport yesterday that APR, Police and Kamonyi are sending athletes to the marathon.

"Athletes are yet to be known but these clubs are the only clubs who have confirmed to send athletes to Kampala,” Murenzi said.

Rwanda has never won silverware in the Kampala marathon despite sending participants every year.

Besides costing sponsors MTN an estimated Shs700m, the number of participants is expected to bulge to 10,000 up from 6,000 that took part in last year’s edition.

The registered participants, including about 400 elite runners, represent the highest turn-up since the marathon was incepted in 2004.

Some of Uganda’s top runners expected to take part include Dorcus Inzikuru, Moses Kipsiro, Isaac Kiprop, Alex Malinga, Joseph Nsubuga, Francis Yiga, among others.

Under the Mama Bag Kit project, an initiative of Uganda Red Cross, the MTN Kampala Marathon has raised Shs121m since its inception in 2004.

The money will be used to assist and resettle expectant mothers living in Northern Uganda IDP camps.  The 21 and 10km routes are unchanged

Hosts Uganda athletics federation has said recently that kit distribution will now take place from November 14 to 21 at MTN offices, Garden City.

The kit for every participant includes a running vest, water bottle, cap and timing chip.

Meanwhile, cash prizes have been staked for the ten winners in each sex category.

Prize Money is as follows;
42km (individual)   
1. 5,000,000(Frw.1.5m)
2. 2,600,000(Frw. 0.78m)
3. 1,800,000(Frw. 0.54m)
4. 1,200,000(Frw. 0.36m)
5. 900,000(Frw. 0.27m)
6. 600,000(Frw. 0.18m)
7. 500,000(Frw. 0.15m)
8. 300,000(Frw. 0.10m)
9. 200,000(Frw. 60000)
10. 150,000(Frw. 50000)

Ends