With the contemporary social dynamics increasingly pushing against the ideals and practicalities of culture, tradition and heritage world over, restoring and preserving the same has never been more urgent.
For Calsaar Cultural Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) preserving and promoting Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage through community-driven approaches, this task begins with revitalizing interest in heritage and tradition among the people.
Among the various strategies being laid out to pursue this noble cause, the Organisation is leaning on sports – a tested tool for bringing people together and fostering social interaction for a given aspect – to publicize Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage.
“As part of our commitment to fostering cultural appreciation and unity, we are organizing the Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon 2025, on July 27th, an event aimed at celebrating and raising awareness about the richness of cultural diversity in Uganda,” a statement issued by Calsaar Cultural Initiative at the event launch reads in part.
The Marathon was launched on April 17th 2025 at the Media Center, an event presided over by the Acting Commissioner of Museums and Monuments – Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Ms. Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye.
Initially scheduled for May 18th, the organizers have since postponed the Marathon to July 27th to enable better planning, according to the officials at the Organisation.
Themed “Running for Culture, Unity, and Sustainable Development”, this maiden edition of the Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon comes after a series of other events organized by Calsaar to drum up interest for culture and heritage preservation including a symposium at Makerere University, an exhibition on International Museum Day in Kabale and a Greening campaign held in Kigezi region.
This theme, according to the statement, underscores the importance of cultural heritage in fostering peace, inclusion, and community transformation.
“Through this event, we seek to unite people from different backgrounds to celebrate and support cultural preservation initiatives. This marathon aligns with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (celebrated annually on May 21st), emphasizing the role of culture in sustainable development, social cohesion, and community empowerment,” the statement reads.
Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon – More than an event
The Culture and Heritage Awareness Marathon is not just a run—it’s a movement, the statement says.
It adds, “It is an annual event designed to celebrate Uganda’s rich and diverse cultural tradition by bringing together people from all walks of life through the universal language of sports.”
“This marathon is more than a race—it’s a collective statement that culture matters, that unity is possible, and that sustainable development must be rooted in our identity and heritage,” said Steven Sekajja, Executive Director, Calsaar Cultural Initiative.
According to Sekajja, proceeds from the Marathon will support a documentation and storytelling project focused on collecting, preserving and archiving indigenous knowledge, oral traditions, and folklore from the Teso Region, Soroti District where a needs assessment has been conducted.
“We have engaged key stakeholders including local cultural leaders, historians and community members to determine the most suitable project based on their needs. In addition, 1,000 indigenous trees with cultural significance will be planted and nurtured, emphasizing the deep connection between culture, nature, and sustainability.”
Slated to be held at Kitante Primary School from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the event will feature a marathon with various races (5km, 10km, and 21km), a blend of cultural performances from various regions of Uganda, art and crafts exhibitions, a cultural awareness symposium and traditional story telling sessions.
Participants will be required to part with UGX 25,000 to secure a running kit that includes a running vest, refreshments, and a tree seedling “as a symbol of growing our heritage.”
These can be picked from the select pickup points; Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) Reception – level six Lugogo House, TimeOut Leisure Park Bweyogerere, Naalya Motel Reception and Henry’s Sports Center Kabalagala.
Culture and Heritage Awareness Symposium
On May 8th 2025, Calsaar Cultural Initiative conducted a Cultural Symposium at Makerere University, offering an engaging platform for dialogue on Uganda’s culture and heritage.
Themed “Sustaining Uganda’s Heritage through tourism and environmental protection”, the symposium aimed at among others; empowering sector players to utilize Uganda’s rich heritage to develop communities through investment, leveraging tradition to create selling tourism packages and bolstering uptake of earning opportunities for individuals through community-based cultural initiatives.
The symposium drew in a diverse panel of discussants including Ms. Barbra Babweteera Mutambi the Executive Director Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), Mr. Bashir Hangi, Head of Communication and PR at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusooka – Founder and CEO Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) and Dr. Gessa Simplicious – Senior Public Relations Officer at Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).
These tackled topics including; Integrating Conservation, Public Health and Community Livelihoods, Role of Protected Areas in Preserving Culture and Heritage, Culture Heritage as a Driver for Sustainable Development in Uganda and Leveraging Uganda’s Culture and Heritage for Tourism Growth.
Museum Day Exhibition & Greening Kigezi Campaign
Calsaar Cultural Initiative was one of the exhibitors during the International Museum Day celebrations held in Kabale on May 18th that ran under the theme “Preserving Heritage, Transforming Communities.”
As a precursor event to their maiden Marathon, the exhibition was yet another platform for the organization to reach out to various categories of people in the conservation space and further spread the cultural heritage preservation message.
Calsaar’s goals align with this year’s Museum Day theme that seeks to reinforce the conservation of cultures and traditions, and optimizing opportunities therein for socioeconomic transformation of communities.
At the same event, in collaboration with Miss Tourism Uganda, Calsaar Cultural Initiative conducted a greening campaign for Kigezi region – an ideal of the Organisation’s environmental conservation component, providing tree seedlings for individuals to take home and planting others to mark the commemoration.
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Speaking to PrimeNews on Wednesday, Sekajja emphasized that greening campaigns are a part of Calsaar’s conservation strategies and the next leg will be in Eastern Uganda where they intend to plant Acacia and Shea Nut trees.
These particular trees, according to Sekajja, are rooted in the heritage of Eastern Uganda; the Acacia being home to Uganda’s endemic bird species – Fox’s Weaver, and the Shea Nut Tree, a living embodiment of tradition, economic inheritance and social status among some communities.
“These trees are being lumbered for commercial gain. The shea nut tree produces excellent charcoal so it has become a target for cutting. This practice, however, does only shrink the habitat for the Fox’s Weaver, it erodes the traditional and economic benefit the shea nut tree has given for centuries,” he said.