Team Oscar turned grief into purpose at the Remembrance Walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA On 5 December last year, at around 2p.m., a phone call changed Natalie Catherine Ndagire’s life forever. Her husband, Oscar Ojambo, had succumbed to injuries sustained in a road crash on the Northern Bypass in Kampala. Almost a year later, Ndagire stood at the start line of the 2025 Joe Walker remembrance walk accompanied by a group of people who shared a part of Oscar’s life, each determined to walk 10 kilometres to honour and remember his life. The team comprised Tarzan Mazinga, Jude Muhindi, Sheila Karungi, Bertha Tendo, Paul Mukama, William Mutebe and Ndagire, and went by the name Team...
Why some runners chose to walk at Joe Walker remembrance walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA On the day of the Joe Walker remembrance walk, a number of runners put aside their running routines and chose a slower rhythm. The atmosphere itself seemed to encourage reflection rather than speed. Among the runners was Anita Komukama, a public health worker and recreational runner who balances her love for movement with a passion for wellness. For Komukama, choosing to walk was intentional. She said that walking shaped her long before she ever took up running. “Walking has saved my life on many fronts, and the Remembrance Walk is designed as a walking experience, so it felt natural to honour...
How team trailblazers prepared for victory in the Remembrance Relay Walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA For the second year in a row, team trailblazers crossed the finish line at the Joe Walker remembrance walk, completing the 60-kilometre relay ahead of everyone else. The team's six members, Ken Ndandiko Kayiri, Mark Tushabe Kakuru, Sharifah Nalubwama, Moses Vubbya, Brian Mutono and James Makumbi, finished in 8 hours, reflecting their preparation and focus. Tushabe shared that each member was required to run at least four hours a week in preparation for the remembrance walk. That discipline kept them ready for the 10-kilometre stretches. "On the D-day, each member brought good vibes and energy simply by being confident and disciplined,...
The Remembrance walk for me was personal – Ponton
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA When Alex Ponton arrived in Uganda a decade ago, he likely did not imagine himself walking 51 kilometers in a single day. Known for his entrepreneurial ventures and investments, Ponton had been, like most residents, navigating Uganda’s challenging roadways. This shared experience sparked his interest in the 2024 Joe Walker Remembrance Relay Walk. “I have been in Uganda for ten years now, and I have seen firsthand how road safety is a major issue,” Ponton shares. Participating in the walk was personal. He wanted to do something to raise awareness and contribute to the cause. “About seven or eight years ago,...
How teamwork led Trailblazers to victory
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA Mark Kakuru Tushabe, a 21-year-old student at YMCA Comprehensive Institute, never anticipated that a simple decision would lead to a memorable experience. As part of the University Fitness Club's regular runners and marathoners, Tushabe and his teammates were used to physical challenges. When the 2024 Joe Walker Remembrance Walk was announced, they saw it as a perfect opportunity to compete as a team. After gathering a group of willing participants, the team quickly realised choosing a name was just as important as the walk itself. "We had a vote, and names like Walkaholics and Trailblazers came up," Tushabe recalls....
Team Priscilla: Pushing limits and building bonds during the walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA Team Priscilla, named after Priscilla Kataaha, one of its members, embarked on the Joe Walker Remembrance Walk with a unique sense of togetherness. The team, consisting of Priscilla, Jeremiah Naloda, and Victor Akena, was formed out of necessity when Priscilla found herself without a partner after her teammate dropped out. The trio bonded over the course of the event walking. Akena shares their experience. Q: How did you prepare for the Joe Walk Remembrance walk as Team Priscilla? A: We were prepared for it because we’ve walked before. We regularly walk and have participated in marathons. I’m a sports person, I...
Meet the ladies who walked 60km
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA On November 17, 2024, Stella Kamakune, Resty Nabatte, and Jacqueline Busingye, known as Team Bombastic, took on the challenge of walking 60 kilometres in the Joe Walker Remembrance Walk. Completing the trek in 12 hours and 12 minutes, they share their inspiring journey of endurance and motivation. How did you prepare physically and mentally for the 60km walk? Stella: I’m part of a group where we walk at least three kilometers every day, so exercise is just part of me. Resty: I’d heard that regular walking helps you gauge how far you can go in a day. If you can walk...
How a mother inspired her daughters to walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA For Veronica Primrose Kisaakye, walking is more than just a physical activity. It is a lifeline, a way to reconnect with health, and to bond with her children. On November, 17, 2024, she and her daughters, Gabriella Atuhairwe Twesige (13) and Raphaella Atugonza Twesige (11) walked 10 kilometres in the Joe Walker Remembrance Relay Walk turning what could have been a challenging experience into a powerful lesson in resilience and family unity. Ms Kisaakye, an entrepreneur and mother of three, shared how walking has transformed her life. “I used to suffer from severe back issues. There were times I would...
The difficult realities of walking on Kampala roads
By David Mujuni As the sun began to rise over our capital city Kampala, a group of determined walkers set out on a 60-kilometre journey. Yes, I know. For many this sounds crazy, but for these walkers, this was something they had eagerly been waiting for. The walk was not only for personal fitness and leisure but to honor the memory of road crash victims and raise awareness about road safety. While most teams wanted to top the relay, team The Panthers (David Mujuni, Doreen Nasasira, Becky Kategaya, Catherine Ageno, Collins Bareija aka Emeka, & Ronald Senvuma), set a goal of making...
Man honours departed brothers in 60km walk
By Belinda Birungi The drizzle and rain on November 19 rain didn't not stop participants like John Ssembogo from taking part in the Joe Walker Remembrance walk. Ssembogo, a member of Team Nkozi, walked the full 60km and he shares what drove him to do that. Tell us a little about who you are. My name is John Ssembogo, born and raised in Kyotera. I'm 29 years old and an Information Technology practitioner. Why did you join the walk? I joined the walk to particularly remember my deceased brothers and to represent the millions of people who lost their loved ones but couldn't make it...
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