One of the questions we get asked a lot by runners & their families: Is Uganda safe?
We are conscious of this as a concern for anyone undertaking international travel, particularly to non-European or non-Western countries. We’d like to take an opportunity to address this directly and be clear about the steps that we are taking and the assurances that we can give that The Uganda International Marathon is an entirely safe event.
First of all, safety is an interesting concept. Are you safe in central London? Are you safe on an airplane? In a car? Are you safe as a tourist in Paris? In Bangkok?
There’s no such thing as absolute safety, but we’re confident in stating that the specific precautions we are taking, coupled with the peaceable and stable nature of Uganda means participants safety will be safeguarded and of the utmost importance to us at all times.
The main worries people have approached us with generally fall into the below categories:
Health
Yes, Uganda- like most of the warmer or less developed countries in the world- has problems with disease. However, nearly all have prophylactics available. If you have been travelled to almost any part of Africa before, or India, SE Asia or Central America, you are likely to have been inoculated against anything you could come into contact with. Masaka is in a Malarial zone, however anti-malarials are cheap and widely available. HIV is now prevalent around the world, so take the same precautions you would anywhere else- no unprotected sex and no sharing needles.
There are very high quality local medical facilities available, and we are also bringing a team of UK medics out with us. Medical care is therefore continually available for the duration of your stay.
Unfortunately, due to what the Economist has dubbed “The ignorance epidemic”, we are also frequently asked about Ebola. Our response is here, but the brief answer is no. The outbreak is 3,000 miles from Masaka- the same distance as London, UK to Baghdad, Iraq and twice the distance from London to Moscow.
We strongly recommend a visit to a travel clinic or doctor before departure to ascertain what inoculations/ medications are necessary for you.
Running
Running a Full-, Half- or Quarter Relay Marathon can be difficult. If you are not a regular runner we recommend visiting a doctor before embarking on any training regime. The marathon will begin early in the morning, but expect sunshine and heat in excess 25 centigrade. Due to the unpredictable local climate due to lake Victoria, there may also be rain prior to and during the race.
There will be adequate water provision and medical support throughout the course, but it would be wise to run with a water pouch / camelbak or similar, as dehydration is a real risk in running events. We also strongly suggest running with a hat and plenty of sun protection.
Safety
Our team have been responsible for thousands of journeys to East Africa. We’re familiar with the sort of crimes that may rarely happen to tourists. Almost without exception, these are opportunistic thefts. When you consider the average wage is around $500 per year in rural areas, you can see how an unattended $800 iPhone becomes a temptation. This is no different to many parts of the world.
Crimes against the person are extremely rare. Even more so in Masaka, a largely value-led Christian community, with minimal tourism and the problems that can bring.
Safety on the day- whilst inevitably an event of this size may attract an opportunist pick-pocket, all our staff are vetted by the local NGO as trustworthy & reliable. There will be secure storage on the day, and the route will be clearly marked and staffed at regular intervals with marshals, race staff and medical support. There will also be vehicles along the route to transport people back to Masaka town in case of injury or incident.
Political
Uganda- like many countries, UK & USA included- has seen revolution and political upheaval. However the country has been stable for the past twenty years. There has been one significant terrorist attack in the past decade (the same as UK & USA). However, Uganda today is a peaceful country. There is a small amount of lawlessness in the far northeast of the country, along the border with South Sudan/ Kenya, but this is politically and geographically isolated, and a full 24 hours travel from Masaka. The anti-homosexuality legislation that gained global press coverage in the past year was overturned by the Ugandan courts.
However, life for the average person in and around Masaka is safe and peaceful. We do not foresee political risk to be a factor in the race. However, please do stay up to date with the latest FCO advice (if a British national), or your own country’s foreign office recommendations.
Insurance
The race itself is insured through Inspired Escapes, the travel company responsible for all our back-end travel arrangements. You will need your own personal travel insurance for the remainder of your stay & flights. No special provisions or supplements are likely to be required- running is a level one activity, which usually requires no extra coverage.
Conclusion
As with any physical activity or overseas holiday, there is a small amount of risk present. But the unfounded fears that we hear about specifically- kidnapping, Ebola etc- are all based on misconceptions about the size and diversity of Africa. What is a risk in Somalia or Nigeria will likely not be a risk in Uganda or Malawi, and vice versa.
Overall, we strongly believe in the safety of Uganda- after all, several of our UK team are moving to live and work there for the next six months, with no qualms whatsoever.
