Runners and walkers united in Mbale for the 10th annual CURE Brain Surgery Run, turning physical activity into support for children needing surgery.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth flagged off the charity event on October 19, 2026, urging participants to help save lives.
The event featured 5km and 10km races, giving participants an opportunity to combine fitness with fundraising for specialised childhood neurological care.
State Minister for Public Service Lydia Wanyoto joined Members of Parliament, local leaders and other supporters for the milestone edition.
Beyond the finish line, the shared goal was supporting CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda, which provides specialised neurosurgical treatment in Mbale.
Over 10 editions, the annual run has brought communities, sponsors and well-wishers together to support children requiring potentially life-saving operations.
Oboth shares personal connection
Addressing participants, Oboth praised the hospital’s contribution to children’s healthcare, saying its impact extended beyond individual patients to families and communities.
He explained that his connection with the facility was personal, having previously brought a patient there for treatment.
That experience, he said, made his participation an opportunity to give back to an institution whose work he had witnessed firsthand.
Oboth urged runners and sponsors to sustain their support, emphasising that helping one child could positively influence an entire community.
His message reinforced the event’s wider purpose, with participation helping mobilise resources and awareness around access to specialised treatment.
Running to support children’s surgery
CURE Uganda says its surgeons perform more than 2,000 operations annually for children with conditions including hydrocephalus, spina bifida and brain tumours.
The hospital combines surgical treatment with services including physiotherapy, follow-up appointments and support for patients and caregivers throughout recovery.
Fundraising through the CURE Brain Surgery Run supports this work, connecting community participation with the hospital’s efforts to reach vulnerable children.
The event also provides a platform to challenge stigma surrounding neurological conditions and encourage families to seek medical assessment.
Organisers and supporters urged communities to support affected children, while encouraging parents to seek treatment rather than hide them through fear.
That awareness campaign adds another dimension to the run, extending its purpose beyond fundraising to conversations about children’s health and inclusion.
Oboth thanked runners, sponsors, medical workers and other supporters, acknowledging their contributions to the hospital’s work and the annual event.
He urged Ugandans to maintain that commitment beyond race day, helping more vulnerable children access the care they need.