The Kamwenge district Woman MP, Sylvia Bahairera has described the ongoing MTN-sponsored Tooro Kingdom bicycle race competitions as a big achievement for the people of Kamwenge and Tooro Kingdom at large. She said this during the Kamwenge bicycle race that was held yesterday, attracting hundreds of people who poured onto the streets of Kamwenge town to witness the exciting bicycle racing.
By 8 am hundreds of cyclists had assembled at Rugonjo trading center in Kibale county ready to participate in the 20KM race that ended in Kamwenge town.
While presiding over the event, Bahairera said that: “The bicycle race is a very big achievement for both Kamwenge and Tooro kingdom. In some cases, we have only been hearing that different activities are taking place in Fort Portal city but I am happy that today the people of Kamwenge have also benefited, ” Bahairera said shortly before handing over cash prizes to the 10 winners.
The winners in the ordinary bicycle race were; Peter Wabulo, Tumusiime Zadok, Steven Tumuhimbise, Emmanuel Tumukwasize and Emmanuel Bizimana while the sports bike category winners were; Martin Ampaire, Herbert Tumwebaze, Joseph Mugisa, Gwon Ahimbisibwe and Ivan Murungi.
Julius Mwesige who participated in the 20KMs race described the race as massive.
“I feel happy even though I haven’t won. I am proud that I participated and I want to thank MTN and Tooro kingdom officials for the good partnership. Some of the people are seeing the bicycle race for the first time,” he said.
Prof. Denis Mukama Namara the Tooro kingdom education minister said that the kingdom had achieved a lot through the partnership with MTN.
“As a kingdom our people have benefited a lot from MTN and we are grateful for their support, ” Namara said.
Bunyangabu edition
On Friday last week, Hundreds of people lined up along the Kasese-Fort Portal highway in Bunyangabu district to watch the Bunyangabu leg of the exciting MTN-Tooro Kingdom bicycle races.
Over 30 cyclists participated in the event and the winners received cash prizes.
Winners in the manual bikes were; Friday George, Tobios Muganzi, David Sunday, Posiano Basaija, and Patrick Kyalingonza while the Sports bikes category winners were; Peter Mugisa, Abdul Murungi, Alex Sabiiti, Micheal Mugisa, and Francis Bwekale.
The Tooro kingdom County chief for Bunyangabu, Kabuuzi Earnest who presided over the event on behalf of the kingdom said that the bicycle race was the first of its kind in Bunyangabu.
“I need to thank MTN for partnering with Tooro kingdom and ensuring that the bicycle races take place am happy that many people have embraced the sport including youths and elderly,” Kabuuzi said.
Nyaika Achebe the coordinator for Bunyangabu district said that they had been overwhelmed by the high turn-up of people.
Achebe said that all the five winners in the different categories will represent Bunyangabu county at the grand finale in Fort Portal on 4th of September where the Omukama of Tooro Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru is expected to be the chief guest
Over 200 participants on Sunday morning participated in the Tooro Kingdom MTN-sponsored empaka z’obugaali bwa Masaza in Fort Portal city.
The bicycle races that were launched as a precursor to the Kingdom’s 200th anniversary will be undertaken by all 9 counties of the Tooro kingdom. The final race shall be held during the Empango celebrations week and shall be provided over by the King of Tooro.
Michael Wandera, the Tooro kingdom sports minister who presided over the Sunday bicycle racing event in Fort Portal said that the city had registered the highest number of participants since they started.
“Am happy that we are progressing on very well I appreciate everyone who is participating in these exciting challenges. I urge more and more people to turn up for the rest of the races,” Wandera said.
Wandera also commended MTN for supporting the bicycle racing competitions in Tooro kingdom.
“As a kingdom, we are very happy with MTN because it has supported a lot of activities in the kingdom and we shall always work with them,” Wandera noted.
Steven Ayebale who participated and came first in the ordinary bike category could not hide his excitement after receiving his cash prize of 500,000 shillings.
“Am happy that I have finally won and MTN has given me cash I’m going to buy another bicycle and am encouraging other people to also participate because it’s a very good event and well organized,” Ayebale said.
The other ordinary bike category winners were; Musa Kavuma in the second, Godfrey Ngozi came third, Moses Nabasa was the fourth and Robert Isingoma was the fifth.
In the sports bike category the winners, from first to fifth were: David Semu, Robert Tugume, Peter Asiimwe, Frank Tusiime, and Wilbert Tusiime