It is called the Mayor’s Run, but in truth, it belongs to everyone: students, workers, mothers, athletes, and visitors. The race is more than a competition. It is a statement that Gulu is ready to write itself into the sporting calendar of Uganda and beyond.
By Willy Chowoo
Gulu City
At the crack of dawn on October 6, 2025, Gulu City will transform. The streets that usually hum with boda-bodas, traders, and schoolchildren will become a sea of pounding feet and colourful jerseys. For the first time in its history, the city will host a marathon of global proportions, launching the Oktoberfest celebrations with the energy of 20,000 runners.
It is called the Mayor’s Run, but in truth, it belongs to everyone: students, workers, mothers, athletes, and visitors. The race is more than a competition. It is a statement that Gulu is ready to write itself into the sporting calendar of Uganda and beyond.
In his office at Gulu City Hall, Mayor Okwonga Alfred leans forward as he speaks, his voice carrying a mixture of excitement and resolve.
“Our preparation for Gulu City Oktoberfest is on schedule and moving smoothly,” he says. “But the marathon is the soul of this celebration. It is about bringing people together for health, unity, and legacy.”
The Mayor’s eyes light up when he talks about inclusivity. Kits for the race, each with a vest and T-shirt, go for sh25,000 . Available at local radio stations and hotels, they are deliberately affordable.
“We don’t want anyone to be left out. Whether you are a teacher, a boda-boda rider, a student, or a visitor, this run is for you. Years from now, you should be able to say: I was there when it all began,” Okwonga says.
Voice 1: Gulu City mayor, Mr. Okwonga Alfred speaking about the preparation for Oktoberfest, 2025
The Oktoberfest, 2025 is an event poised to place Northern Uganda on the global tourism map. With over 30,000 guests expected, among them 600 visitors from Germany, the festival will be a cultural and economic milestone for a region long associated with post-conflict recovery.
Building a Race for All
The man tasked with the technical heart of the marathon is Otim Geoffrey, chairperson of the organizing committee for the marathon. He has the kind of no-nonsense calm you’d expect from someone who has spent weeks poring over maps, safety plans, and training schedules.
“This is the first edition, but it will not be the last,” he says firmly. “We are creating a tradition that will outlive us.”
The race will feature 5km and 10km categories, designed to be achievable yet competitive. Schoolchildren will run alongside seasoned athletes, while corporate teams in branded kits will compete for glory.
But Geoffrey has a secret up his sleeve: the exact race routes.
“We are keeping them under wraps until the last moment,” he smiles. “Too many people like to take shortcuts when they know the course. This will be a fair race.”
Otim adds that the marathon will not stop with this year’s Oktoberfest alone. The organising team plans to make it an annual signature event every October, turning Gulu into a permanent fixture on Uganda’s athletics calendar.
Voice 2: Mr Otim Geoffrey , chair technical team speaking about Mayor’s Run 2025
Mr. Odongkara James Lamailing, a member of the marathon’s technical team, emphasised that the race meets World Athletics standards. “We appeal to people to turn up in great numbers because a strong showing will strengthen our case to register the Mayor’s Run as a national marathon with the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF),” he noted.
Sweat, Safety, and Spirit
Races are about endurance, but in Gulu’s October heat, they are also about survival. Geoffrey knows this well.
“We encourage everyone to start training now. On race day, medical staff will screen participants before the start. And along the course, we will have water and glucose at official refreshment points. Please — don’t drink from just anyone offering water,” he warns.
Security is also assured. Police and marathon ushers will line the streets to keep order. For a city that has hosted presidential visits and Independence Day parades, the marathon will be yet another chance to show it can manage a high-profile event.
For Adong Winfred Caroline, a local sports advocate, the marathon is about breaking barriers. Too often, she says, women are absent in large numbers at such events.
“When you attend marathons, you see three or four women running while men dominate. This time, I want to see women come out in their hundreds,” she says passionately.
Adong views the marathon as a platform for empowerment.
“Exercise makes life easier. It builds confidence, improves health, and strengthens resilience. Women and girls should take this chance to show that they can lead in sports too,” she adds.
Voice3: Adong Winifred Caroline, a member of technical team shades more light on the marathon.
Her words might already be sparking excitement among young women in schools and universities across Gulu.
The Prize Is More Than Medals
Of course, no marathon is complete without recognition. Geoffrey confirms that certificates will go to the top ten finishers, while the best three in each category will receive gold, silver, and bronze medals. Schools and corporate bodies will also take-home trophies.
Cash prizes are on the table, depending on turnout. But as Geoffrey insists, the true prize is legacy.
Gulu has known endurance before. This is a city that survived decades of conflict, displacement, and recovery. To many, running is not just sport — it is a metaphor for resilience.
Local gyms are already filling up as people prepare. School teams are registering en masse. Even taxi operators are preparing for the influx of visitors. Cafés and hotels expect booming business.
The marathon, Mayor Okwonga believes, will showcase not just endurance but also opportunity.
“When people come here to run, they will discover our markets, our culture, our hotels. They will see that Gulu is not only a city of history, but of potential,” he says.
The Road Ahead
As the days tick down, the energy is palpable. Posters are up across the city. Radio jingles play daily, urging people to buy kits. Children are practicing sprints on dusty playgrounds, while veteran athletes are testing their pace along the Ring Road.
The Mayor dreams of a moment when the starting gun fires and 20,000 runners surge forward, a living symbol of health and hope.
Geoffrey envisions a legacy.“This marathon will become part of Uganda’s sporting identity. Ten, twenty years from now, it will still be here, bigger and better,” he says.
And for Adong, the vision is clear.“I want women and girls to look back and say: we didn’t watch from the sidelines, we ran. We were part of history.”
Running into History
On October 6th, when the first steps hit the tarmac, Gulu City will do more than host a race. It will make a statement: that it is a city ready to move, to endure, to win.
The marathon is not just the opening of Oktoberfest. It is the opening of a new chapter for Gulu; one where the rhythm of running feet will echo a story of unity, resilience, and pride.
And when the medals are handed out and the last runner crosses the line, the real victory will belong to the city itself.
Because in Gulu this year, the marathon is not just about the finish line. It is about starting something that will never stop.
A Packed Festival Program
The week-long Oktoberfest, scheduled to run from 6th to 14th October 2025, will feature a rich line-up of activities ranging from sports and culture to business and tourism.
The Oktoberfest celebrations will kick off on October 6 with the much-anticipated Mayor’s Run, as thousands of athletes and community members take to the streets of Gulu. The excitement continues into the evening with a gala dinner at Boma Hotel, bringing together participants, officials, and visitors for an evening of networking and celebration.
On October 7, the city comes alive with the grand opening ceremony, starting with a spirited march through Gulu streets and culminating in official speeches, including the anticipated address by President Museveni.
From October 8 to 10, the festivities shift into a colorful mix of cultural performances, as 24 tribes showcase their traditional dances, alongside a half-day business conference, a thrilling motor rally, tourism excursions, and lively fashion competitions where Miss and Mr. Oktoberfest will be crowned.
The festival wraps up from October 11 to 14 with more traditional dance competitions, continued cultural showcases, and a spectacular closing ceremony, complete with fireworks, leaving the city buzzing with memories and anticipation for next year
Cultural Significance:
The week-long Oktoberfest, scheduled from October 6th to 14th, 2025, will showcase a vibrant tapestry of Uganda’s cultural heritage, featuring performances from 64 artists and 24 traditional dance groups representing the country’s diverse regions.
These dances are more than just performances; they are expressions of identity, history, and community values. Each dance tells a story, celebrates traditions, and fosters unity among Uganda’s diverse ethnic groups. By bringing together these regional dances, the Oktoberfest aims to promote cultural exchange and appreciation, highlighting the rich tapestry of Uganda’s heritage.
Mayor Okwonga Alfred confirmed that 24 tribes have officially registered to participate in the Oktoberfest, each eager to showcase their rich cultural heritage through traditional music, dance, and performances.
