The inaugural Race the Nile-Uganda Ultra, the country’s newest international cycling event, has been officially launched in Kampala, setting the stage for the race scheduled for 23rd to 27th November 2026.
The five-day event, is a self-supported ultra-endurance gravel and mountain-bike race that will be held in the West Nile Region, and is designed to combine a serious international sporting challenge with local participation, regional value creation and long-term destination visibility.
The launch, which happened at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Monday August 24 2026, brought together government leaders, tourism stakeholders, the cycling fraternity, development partners, and the private sector in a shared commitment to establish Race the Nile as one of Africa’s premier cycling and sports tourism events.
Monday’s launch becomes the second, after the initial one happened in Arua City on August 4 2026.
Conceived by Pablo Rodriguez, Klemens Kollenz and Lilly Ajarova as more than a sporting competition, Race the Nile combines endurance cycling with destination marketing, showcasing the spectacular landscapes of the River Nile, the unique culture and heritage of West Nile, and Uganda’s growing reputation as a world-class adventure tourism destination.
Speaking at the launch, the race’s Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Ajarova, said the event was born out of a vision to unlock the tourism and economic potential of West Nile through sports.
“The race will start and end in Arua City but it will cover a distance of 800km going through the all the districts of West Nile. It is an extreme sport that will be mostly on gravel other than tarmac with only three per cent of the distance on tarmac,” Ajarova said.
She added that this will entirely be a self-supported race where the racers will have to take care of themselves, plan, navigate, decide where to spend the night and fix mechanical conditions of their bikes with the local people.
The organisers however, she added, will provide the racers with information on the routes, stopover points, hotels and lodges, supplies locations, and other services but will not directly be involved in any bookings as per the rules of the race.
This first edition, Ajarova said, will be capped at 50 international racers as organisers pick lessons to build onto for the subsequent ones.
The winner of the race will get the prestigious opportunity to name one of the white rhinos in Ajai Game Reserve, also located in West Nile, while other participants will have several other uniform prices.
The event organizer, Mr. Isaac Mulindwa Jr, the CEO of Wuza (U) Ltd noted that delivering a self-supported race of this scale requires disciplined local planning, clear responsibilities and close coordination.
“Wuza Ltd’s role is to translate the concept into a safe and workable event on the ground, working with relevant authorities, suppliers, route experts and local stakeholders across West Nile,” Mulindwa said.
The race is expected to attract elite and amateur cyclists, adventure travellers, international media, tour operators and supporters from across the world, generating significant economic benefits for accommodation facilities, restaurants, transport providers, tour guides, artisans and local entrepreneurs.
According to the organisers, it also seeks to advance environmental stewardship, community participation and youth empowerment by promoting cycling as a healthy, sustainable and inclusive sport.
Ajarova, who doubles as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Tourism, expressed appreciation to the Government of Uganda, and sponsors including the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Aqua Fina mineral water and the Sheraton Kampala hotel for their support in making the race possible.