All set ahead of the Corporate Run for expectant mothers
David GOMBE
Business leaders, government officials, health experts, development partners and members of the public have today come together to officially launch the fourth edition of the Corporate Run, a national charity initiative focused on supporting expectant mothers and contributing to the fight against preventable maternal deaths in Uganda.
The Corporate Run 2026 will take place on Sunday, 11th October 2026, at 6:00 a.m. at the NEC Grounds in Bugolobi, Kampala, bringing together runners, walkers, corporate teams, families and members of the public from across the country.
This year, the Corporate Run has set an ambitious target of raising funds to purchase 5,000 mama kits, which will be supplied to health centres across Uganda to support expectant mothers, particularly those in communities where access to essential maternal health supplies remains a challenge.
The launch comes at a time when Uganda has made progress in reducing maternal deaths, but the numbers remain a serious concern. Ten years ago, Uganda was losing an estimated 28 mothers every day to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Today, that number stands at 16.
While the decline represents progress, 16 mothers dying every day remains 16 too many.
In Uganda, an estimated 16 mothers die every day. Behind each statistic is a mother who did not make it home with her baby, often because of challenges including delayed access to a health facility, lack of blood for transfusion, unattended complications or the absence of basic supplies needed during childbirth.
The mama kits are therefore at the centre of this year’s Corporate Run campaign. The proceeds from the initiative will go towards purchasing the kits and supplying them to health centres across the country, helping ensure that expectant mothers have access to essential items when they arrive to give birth.
A representative of Ruby Hospital, one of the health partners represented at the launch, reflected on Uganda’s progress in maternal health and the need to continue reducing preventable deaths.
“Ten years ago, we were losing about 28 mothers every day. Today, we are at 16. We have made progress, but we must continue working to bring that number down further, towards the 12 recommended under World Health Organization standards. Maternal health is not only about medicine, it is about mothers,” the representative said.
The Commissioner for Maternal Health at the Ministry of Health highlighted the gap between the number of mama kits currently available and the number of births recorded in Uganda.
“Uganda distributes close to 900,000 mama kits every year against nearly two million births. The Ministry is working towards distributing one million mama kits, with each kit costing approximately 10 dollars. When you do the maths, that is around 10 million dollars every year needed for mama kits alone,” the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner also emphasised the importance of protecting mothers and ensuring that safe childbirth remains a national priority.
“Mothers are the foundation of our homes and our nation. Safe delivery matters to the continuity of society, and safeguarding mothers cannot be left to health workers alone. It is the responsibility of the whole community,” the Commissioner said.
He also expressed appreciation for the presence of male business leaders at the launch and their willingness to openly engage in conversations around maternal health.
“It gives me great joy to see men discussing women’s issues with so much passion. When fathers, husbands and business leaders openly discuss maternal health, it stops being seen as only a women’s issue and becomes what it truly is, a national issue,” he said.
The launch also featured expectant mothers who were welcomed as special guests. Their presence brought the purpose of the Corporate Run into sharp focus as they applauded the initiative and expressed appreciation for the attention being given to their wellbeing.
For many of the expectant mothers present, the campaign sent a powerful message that they had not been forgotten.
Their participation reinforced the human face of the Corporate Run and the importance of ensuring that conversations about maternal health remain centred on the mothers who ultimately depend on the support being mobilised.
For Corporate Run Chairman Mr. Ian Rumanyika, the cause is deeply personal. Speaking at the launch, he emphasised that no mother should die while giving birth and reflected on an experience from approximately six to seven years ago when a colleague left work to give birth but tragically never returned.
“Six or seven years ago, a colleague of mine left work to go and give birth, but she never came back. That experience stayed with me. It made me realise that this is not just a statistic. Behind every number is a mother, a family and a life that matters,” Mr. Rumanyika said.
He noted that with current statistics showing an average of 16 mothers dying every day in Uganda, the danger remains real for far too many mothers and families.
“The fourth edition of the Corporate Run is not just a race. It is a renewed promise to mothers and families that we will continue to show up and do what we can to make childbirth safer,” he said.
Mr. Rumanyika called on Ugandans to participate in whatever way they can, whether by running, walking, joining a corporate team, sponsoring the initiative or simply showing up on race day.
“Every person who runs, walks, sponsors or simply shows up becomes part of the reason a mother somewhere gets the opportunity to return home safely with her baby,” he said.
The launch brought together a wide coalition of corporate and institutional partners, each highlighting why maternal health is a cause that requires collective action.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda described the Corporate Run as one of the most beneficial causes he has had the privilege of participating in. Reflecting on the story of Isaac Newton, who was born prematurely and went on to make significant contributions to the world, he highlighted what society stands to lose when mothers and newborns do not survive.
“Isaac Newton was born prematurely and was considered very fragile. Had he not survived, the world would have lost the discoveries and contributions he later made to physics. Every mother or newborn we lose could be a future Newton, and that is a cost society cannot afford to continue paying,” he said.
The Managing Director of BetPawa Uganda reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to mothers and their babies.
“Every mother should know that she is not alone. The health of the mother and the health of the baby are extremely important, and we all have a role to play in protecting both,” he said.
Representing the Capital Markets Authority, PR and Communications Manager Lyn Tukie connected the organisation’s support for the initiative to the importance of investing in people.
“There is no capital without the people. As we mark 30 years of building Uganda’s capital markets, we are proud to support a cause that reminds us that investing in people, starting with the safety of mothers, is the truest form of capital,” Tukie said.
A representative of the Kampala City Traders Association highlighted the everyday realities faced by many traders and families, noting that many traders do not have a financial safety net when faced with emergencies involving expectant mothers.
“When a trader has an expectant mother at home and needs to raise money, sometimes the first person they turn to is the boda boda rider outside the shop. Many traders do not have a safety net. That is why KACITA is standing with expectant mothers,” the representative said.
A representative of Uganda Baati captured the spirit of the campaign in simple terms.
“This is not just a run. It is a cause,” the representative said.
For Ms. Janet Navugga Bugembe, Founder of JTB, the cause is personal. She shared her own experience of childbirth, recalling that she once spent 21 hours in labour.
“I spent 21 hours in labour, and I know firsthand what it means to fight for your life and your child’s life in a delivery room. That is why this cause is personal to me. There are mothers going through the same fight, and we must stand with them,” Janet said.
The President of the Public Relations Association of Uganda, Ms. Irene Nakasita, also shared her personal experience of childbirth, recalling that she needed five units of blood during labour.
“Giving birth is a war. During labour, I needed five units of blood. That experience made this cause personal for me because I know there are mothers going through the same war, and they need people to show up for them,” Nakasita said.
A representative of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation highlighted the initiative’s dual impact on maternal health and physical wellbeing, noting that the Corporate Run not only supports mothers but also encourages people to stay fit and active.
“This initiative is about saving mothers, but it is also about encouraging us to stay fit and healthy. As a father of daughters, this cause is particularly important to me because ultimately, we are fighting to protect women,” the representative said.
At the heart of the 2026 campaign is the commitment to deliver tangible support to health centres and expectant mothers. The target of 5,000 mama kits represents a call to action for companies, institutions, families and individuals to contribute to a cause where participation can translate directly into practical support for mothers.
The Corporate Run is an initiative under Corporate Games Uganda, bringing together organisations and individuals through sport, wellness and social impact.
Registration for the Corporate Run 2026 is now open. Members of the public, corporate teams and partner organisations are encouraged to register early ahead of race day on Sunday, 11th October 2026.
The organisers are calling on companies, institutions, families, individuals and development partners to join the movement by running, walking, sponsoring or mobilising others to participate.
Every runner, walker, corporate team and supporter who joins the Corporate Run adds their voice and contribution to a growing national movement determined to make preventable maternal deaths in Uganda a thing of the past.
