I first heard about the Mental Health Run Kampala 2025 through top city photographer Hamala Baron Edgar, a creator at All Events Kampala. He challenged me, saying, “You can’t do 10km in under an hour and a half.” At first, I joined to prove him wrong. But as the week went on, I discovered the run’s true purpose: raising awareness about mental health, breaking stigma, and funding access to therapy. That shifted my mindset, and suddenly, it was more than a bet.
By 7:00 AM on Sunday, I was already at Revive Wellness Clinic in Kololo, surrounded by friends and strangers who would soon become running companions. With a lot of vigour, I wasted no time in the first stretch. The downhill slide along Upper Kololo Terrace to Lugogo Bypass made the first kilometre feel effortless.
The first five kilometres passed quickly, almost like “lightwork.” I stayed on script, running hard, but then came the real test, the climb up Hill Lane in Kololo. That was when it hit me. I wasn’t here to beat Joshua Cheptegei or Stephen Kiprotich’s national records. I was here to add my voice to the conversation on mental health.
So I slowed down, switched to a mix of jogging and walking, and began talking with fellow runners. Beside me, James Okiror, a medical intern, explained, “We need to normalise conversations about mental health the same way we talk about malaria or the flu.”
A little further along, Grace Nankya, a young mother, added that affordable access to therapy could change not only individuals but entire families who suffer in silence. These stories turned the race into something more of a moving dialogue carried on the rhythm of our footsteps. And by the time I returned to Revive Wellness Clinic, my heart felt fuller than my lungs.
After the cooldown paces, the event shifted gears into a festival of wellness. Qweshunga’s games filled the air with laughter, while Kabera Angel and jBAK Music wrapped the runners in the warmth of their voices.
Then came the wellness discussion panel that sparked deep conversations about stigma, healing, and the urgent need for affordable care. Looking back, what began as an impulsive decision to prove a friend wrong became a lesson in community and purpose.
Uganda needs more of these events. We need more runs that do more than exercise our legs; they should exercise our courage to speak up, to connect, and to care. And if you missed this one, I hope you lace up for the next time Heart to Heart Spaces invites us, because in this race, no one runs alone.
