With just 18 days to go before the Jubilee Live Free Race in Nairobi, Kenya, Uganda’s Jubilee Insurance has announced a significant sponsorship for Ugandan cyclists. The company has provided UGX 31 million to support their preparations for the event.
The third edition of the Jubilee Live Free Race, powered by the Grand Nairobi Bike Race, will take place on September 29th and feature six categories, including the flagship 60 km main race, a 12 km family fun ride, a 48 km Black Mamba ride, a 2 km kiddies’ race, a 48 km para-cycling race, and a 60 km team race – 6 riders.
The race, expected to attract over 2,500 cyclists from 21 countries including Ethiopia, Eritrea, USA, France, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya (hosts) among other countries, will start at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium weaving through key routes across the city.
Jubilee Health Insurance’s Chief Operations Officer, Dr. Amon Salaama, while addressing the fourth estate at the Bulange gardens in Kampala emphasized the importance of the financial support to ensure the cyclists are well-prepared for the race.
“We want to eliminate any excuses for not participating or finishing,” he stated.
This year, Uganda will have a larger contingent of cyclists compared to previous editions, with female riders joining the competition for the first time.
Tony Katumba, manager of Moon Light Cycling, highlighted the significance of such events for cyclists’ career development and potential future achievements.
“What Jubilee Insurance is doing is to prepare the cyclists for the next world champion, for the next olympian” he stated.
Uganda’s Strong Performance
In last year’s Jubilee Live Free Race, Ugandan cyclists had good performances with Paul Lumuria securing first place in the main race and Charles Kagimu finishing third. Other notable performances included Jordan Ssekanwagi in fourth place, Dawson Senabulya in second place in the Black Mamba category, and Hassan Kiryowa in fifth place in the under-23 category.
Photo Credit: Gonzaga Kakeeto
