By KT Reporter
The Gulu City October Festival has kicked off with a dramatic marathon as the city authorities seek to market the region’s tourism potential both nationally and internationally. The week-long event, which began on Monday at Kaunda Grounds with a mayoral run, attracted over 1,000 participants competing in 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km races.
Students from Gulu University, Sacred Heart Girls’ Secondary School, Bishop Angelo Negri College, and St. Joseph’s College Layibi dominated most of the races. However, the event was marred by controversy when officials at the recording desk reportedly altered the results of two athletes who had crossed the finish line among the top contenders in the 21 km run.
Ambrose Opiyo, 21, a former student of Negri College who dropped out in 2022, crossed the finish line with a time of 1:15:01 — ahead of hundreds of runners — but his victory was denied. Visibly exhausted and gasping for breath, Opiyo reached the recording table, where officials rejected his result because he lacked an official registration number.
One of the officials was heard saying, “The marathon is only for those who registered. You are not a participant for this marathon; wait for the upcoming one.” Opiyo, holding a bottle of water, attempted to defend himself but the officials maintained their decision.
“I wanted to run and find an opportunity to go back to school and sit for the Uganda Certificate of Education,” he lamented as he sat by the track, disappointed. A similar fate befell Tonny Onono, a Gulu University student who represented Northern Uganda in the 2022 Japan Marathon. He finished second with a time of 1:20:15 but his record was also not tabulated.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Ocaka, 41, a police officer from Pader District, clocked 1:28:10 to finish third. Despite being issued a third-place card by ushers, his name was later listed as fourth in the official records. The 21 km men’s title eventually went to Simon Akera from Amuru District, with Felix Opiyo from Gulu District declared second.
The 10 km race concluded without disputes, with Emmanuel Rwotokonya of Bishop Angelo Negri College winning gold in 30:05:25. Obedi Jacob, a second-year Bachelor of Arts in Education student at Gulu University, finished second in 30:17:02 to claim silver, while Nicholas Acire from St. Joseph’s College Layibi clocked 30:37:03 to win bronze.
In the women’s 10 km category, 12-year-old Winny Ayat, a Senior One student at Sacred Heart Girls’ Secondary School, finished third with a time of 42:25:00. Her schoolmate, Lamunu Nelly, 18, came second in 42:18:05, while Winny Acayo emerged overall winner with a time of 39:20:45.
In the men’s 10 km wheelchair category for persons with disabilities, four-time record holder Richard Ocira took first place, followed by Denis Ojara and Christopher Ojok in second and third positions, respectively. In the women’s category, Pauline Acayo won gold, while Florence Acen and Lona Lanunu took silver and bronze, respectively.
When asked about the alleged alteration of results, Geoffrey Otim Dawa, the representative of the Council of Sports and team leader of the event, said: “If they didn’t register, they aren’t participants. But if the results changed from the recording table and accolades have already been given, I can’t change anything now.”
Meanwhile, Gulu City Mayor Alfred Okwanga expressed optimism that the festival would boost tourism and cultural exchange in the Acholi Sub-region. “Our targets, our objectives, and our outcomes will be achieved. Tourism is part of the National Development Plan Four, where we aim to increase our income tenfold. For Gulu City, we have taken off — let us embrace it,” Okwanga said.
The event is expected to draw about 35,000 participants from across the world. On the opening day, about 2,000 people attended, including the mayors of Lira, Mbale, and Hoima cities. Lira City Mayor Sam Atul said investing in tourism would help Uganda achieve its economic transformation goal of becoming a money economy.
About 600 German nationals have reportedly booked flights to Gulu City to participate in the inaugural annual festival. A German visitor, Sam Engel from Frankfurt, commended the event, saying he was impressed by the display of young sporting talent and the diversity of the region’s cultures.
Uganda’s Tourism Sector
Uganda’s tourism industry continues to recover strongly post-pandemic, recording a 7.7% increase in international tourist arrivals and a 25.9% surge in earnings in 2024. The country welcomed 1,371,895 international visitors — equivalent to 89.2% of pre-pandemic levels — driven by strategic marketing, improved partnerships, and continued investment in infrastructure and conservation.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities’ April 2025 report, the sector contributed UGX 6.06 trillion to the economy and created about 803,000 jobs in both formal and informal sectors. International tourism receipts rose to UGX 4.8 trillion (approximately USD 1.28 billion), up from USD 1.025 billion in 2023 — accounting for 16% of Uganda’s total exports.
The report emphasized the need for sustained wildlife protection and cultural promotion as Uganda positions itself as a preferred global tourism destination. Tourism is identified in the National Development Plan IV as an anchor sector for job creation, improved livelihoods, and inclusive national development.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
