The hills of Kapchorwa came alive this weekend as young runners, coaches and athletics lovers gathered for the fourth edition of Discovery Uganda, a grassroots running festival powered by Jacob Kiplimo in partnership with Nike, Rosa Association and Uganda Athletics.
Held over two days, the event once again underlined Kapchorwa’s status as a cradle of endurance running and highlighted Uganda’s growing depth of young talent.
The presence of world class stars Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei turned the festival into a national celebration, inspiring hundreds of aspiring athletes lining up to race on familiar home soil.
A Platform for young talent
Discovery Uganda is more than a competition. It is a talent identification and development initiative aimed at uncovering and nurturing runners from the Sebei sub region and beyond.
Fittingly, the high altitude terrain of Kapchorwa provided a demanding but ideal stage.
The festival opened on January 30 with a gruelling off road trail race for senior men and women, testing both stamina and resilience.
Prize money, including UGX 1,100,000 for category winners, reflected the organisers’ commitment to supporting athletes beyond participation.
Day two delivered the main road race alongside Under 12 and Under 15 school events.
Young runners sprinted through Kapchorwa’s streets to loud cheers from parents, coaches and local supporters, many experiencing organised competition for the first time.
Inspired by the Best
Kiplimo and Cheptegei’s involvement lifted the event beyond a local meet.
Kiplimo, the half-marathon world record holder, has become a symbol of what is possible for athletes from the region.
Cheptegei, an Olympic champion and multiple world record holder, echoed the same message, discipline, patience and the right platforms can change lives.
Both athletes praised Discovery Uganda as a crucial stepping stone for identifying future stars and preparing them for the global stage.
Beyond the finish line
Organisers stressed that the festival’s true impact goes beyond medals.
The focus remains on confidence building, community engagement and showing young people that sport can offer real opportunity.
For many schoolchildren, the races marked their first step into competitive athletics.
Uganda Athletics officials noted that the initiative aligns with national efforts to widen the talent pool for future international competitions.
A growing legacy
From a modest local idea, Discovery Uganda has quickly grown into one of the region’s most promising athletics festivals.
With continued support from global partners, it is steadily carving out a place on the international calendar and ensuring Kapchorwa remains at the heart of Uganda’s distance-running story.
