Reviewed by Michael AinomugishaUganda sports betting writer
Published 16 September 2026
Uganda Athletics has told race organisers that no marathon, road race or cross country event may be staged in the country without a federation permit, and has published a fee schedule that puts a marathon licence at 5 million shillings.
The federation set out the requirement in a notice on its own site, saying that many organisations and individuals have been running road races and marathons without its authority. The Daily Monitor reported the same rules from a briefing given by federation president Dominic Otucet and executive board member Apollo Musherure.
Under the new arrangement an organiser has to obtain permission before the event, use technical officials the federation recognises, have the route certified, and run the race under World Athletics and Uganda Athletics rules on doping, safeguarding and safety. Advertised prize money has to be paid as advertised.
What it costs
A marathon permit is 5 million shillings and route certification a further 1.5 million. The schedule is tiered by distance, so shorter races pay less than a full marathon.
Uganda Athletics has said that organisers who ignore the requirement face sanction from the federation.
Why the federation is doing it
Otucet put it plainly in the briefing: it is no longer acceptable for an organiser to stage a race, measure it and officiate it themselves. Musherure said the aim is to stop organisers who take money from athletes and do not pay what they promised.
The federation also has its own finances in view. It told the briefing that it is carrying a large budget shortfall and runs regional training camps with no dedicated funding, and that permit income is meant to go some way toward both.
Uganda’s road race calendar has grown quickly, from the Rwenzori Marathon in Kasese to a long list of charity and corporate runs, and most of it has sat outside any formal licensing. Whether the fees prove affordable for the smaller races is the open question.
Where to bet: athletics is priced thinly in Uganda, so expect outright winner and head to head markets rather than the deeper menus football gets. Fortebet and Betway, both licensed by the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, take championship and marathon markets in shillings with deposits through MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money. Compare the two books before you stake, because thin markets move a long way on small news. Our guide to the best betting sites in Uganda covers licensing and withdrawal times, and there is more in Uganda athletics news from AXN Sports. You must be 25 or older to bet in Uganda, where the Lotteries and Gaming Act sets the minimum age at 25 rather than 18. 25+. Gamble responsibly.
