Saturday 4th May 2019-Arua, West Nile

Eight women and men were rewarded with cash among other prizes for emerging winners in a cycling race that happened in Arua town this morning.

The anticipated race attracted over hundreds of both female and male participants who competed for cash prizes among other rewards.

While their male counterparts raced for 25 kilometers, the women rode 15 kilometers.
Jimmy Abiti, a boda boda rider from Katrini Sub-county emerged the overall winner, walking away with Shs 400,000 and a ready pay solar kit.

“The people were very many but they did not scare me,” says Abiti who has been transporting people on a bicycle to earn a living for the past ten years.

Abiti who was riding in a pair of slippers started off the race with zest and gained more endurance when he reached Airfield on their way back from Manibe round about. He left a huge gap and maintained the huge margin of half a kilometer till the finishing line.

The bicycle race started at MTN Service Center on Adumi road. The men who covered a 25-kilometer stretch rode from Adumi road via Airfield to Manibe, back through Hospital road then to Mvara road round to Mango road, Weather head park lane through to Muni and Ewauata then back to Arua Hill grounds that was the finishing line.

In the women’s race, Eunice Miru from Adumi sub-county won the 15-kilometer race. Other winners in the women’s category include Azigo Loyce, Adania Margret and Kisaraki Gloria. Arudraku Moses, Kandia Steven and Hariaka Robert also walked away with cash prizes in the men’s category.

While presiding over the race, Robert Kakooza, the competition secretary at the Cycling Federation of Uganda said that as a sport, cycling is underserved yet it has the potential of thriving and putting Uganda on the global scene.

“MTN’s initiative to interest the public in cycling will go a long way in promoting the sport,” Kakooza said, encouraging more people to embrace the sport.

Kakooza urged the public to embrace cycling as a sport and fitness exercise as it promotes good health and fitness.

Valery Oketcho, the corporate communications manager at MTN said that in choosing to include cycling among the action attractions to the Expos, we considered the fact that besides the health and fitness benefits derived, it forms a daily part of many Ugandans’ lives.

“By adding a competitive element to it, we sought to reward excellence and further tap into the excitement and unifying factor that the event would bring out of our customers everywhere we go.” He said.

Okecho commended the Cycling Federation of Uganda for the high level of professionalism exhibited in organizing the bicycle races at the MTN at 20 Expos.

To celebrate its 20 years of existence in the country, MTN Uganda has been holding regional expos in major towns such as Kabale, Gulu, Lira, Fort Portal, Mbarara and now Arua town. Other districts set to host the expo include Hoima and Mbale.

The bicycle race is one of the most anticipated activities of the three day event that has so far happened in six districts. The MTN expo will be in Hoima next week where another bicycle race shall be held.

About MTN Uganda        About The MTN Group