The highly billed fourth edition of the Run4Climate was finally held on Sunday, the 16th of June, 2024 at the National Council of Sports Hockey Grounds in Lugogo. The theme for the run was “Running for Climate Action” and the proceeds from the run are set to facilitate landscape restoration efforts under the Running out of Trees (ROOTS) campaign which seeks to plant 40 million trees per year with each tree representing a Ugandan.

Amongst the race categories was the 1 KM for the children as well as the 5 KM and 10 KM for the more seasoned runners. As all this running action unfolded, it is the team of volunteers that were posted along the routes that got a glimpse of every inch of the action involving the runners. These were mostly students from different Universities that have passion for the environment.

Two of these, Kitandwe Kennedy, a student at Uganda Christian University and Twinomujuni Naume, shared their experiences after the Run. According to Kitandwe, his interest in participating in the run stemmed from his deep rooted love for the environment and what happens in it.

“I was particularly interested in participating in the Run4Climate because of my strong concern for environmental issues and the impact of climate change on our planet,” he said. “The event provided an excellent platform to raise awareness and advocate for sustainable practices. Additionally, it was an opportunity to join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to making a positive difference,” he added.

For his love for the environment through participating in the Run4Climate, Kitandwe reflects on the event with gratification and also believes that it has injected more energy into him to continue pursuing good causes for the environment.

“Volunteering at the Run4Climate 2024 was a rewarding experience. At my checkpoint, I observed the dedication and energy of the participants, which was truly inspiring,” he observed. He also added that, “The atmosphere at the venue was vibrant, with various educational booths, performances, and activities that emphasized the importance of environmental conservation. Overall, the event reinforced my commitment to environmental causes and provided a sense of fulfillment,” he said.

For Twinomujuni, she was most excited by the fact that children also had an independent category and participated. She believes that this could be a key stepping stone to ensuring that we raise the next generation of environmental stewards with the correct mentorship from an early age.

“I was attracted by the fact that children were involved because if we engage them in climate talks from a young age, it will create an impact on them as they grow and they will be able to transform the societies that they hail from,” she submitted.

She was equally excited by the efforts of the runners who put everything on the line to ensure that they finished their respective races regardless of the challenging course or any other distractions not because they were doing it for themselves but, because they were doing it for the environment.

“At my checkpoint, I enjoyed the energy of the participants who kept going irrespective of anything and simply aimed at finishing the race whether by small footsteps or any other means. It was very encouraging right away from the first runner until the very last,” she said.

With the 2024 edition of the Run4Climate now in the history books, the stage is set for the fifth edition of the same run which is slated for June, 2025. If you love the environment, this could be the most ideal time to lace up your shoes and start preparing.