If all goes to plan, President Museveni will grace the inaugural Olympic Day Tooke Run this Saturday, June 20, in the western district of Bushenyi, the organisers have announced.
The run precedes the World Olympic Day, which is celebrated globally on June 23 to commemorate the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the revival of the modern Olympic Games in 1894.
Under the theme ‘Move, Learn and Discover for Nutrition Care,’ is organised by the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID), Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre in conjunction with the Uganda Olympic Committee the run will have participants in the 5km, 10km, 21km chasing a share of the juicy prize money of Shs120m.
The Tooke products are a brainchild of Rev Prof Florence Isabirye Muranga, who rewrote nutritional history by adding value to matooke, a staple that was only consumed in its conventional way, boiled or steamed. Her company embarked on more durable, versatile forms of matooke: crisps, biscuits, bread and floor.
‘At school, they taught us that matooke is 75 percent water. But Prof Muranga changed that by making these wonderful products, and more are coming,’ said Tooke ambassador Henry Mugisha during an aerobics workout at Golola Talent Academy in Kawempe-Lugoba.
‘I equally thank President Museveni, the patron of the PIBID and our Prof Muranga. Without her initiative, I wouldn’t have come all the way from Rukiga to be the ambassador of these products.’
‘So, the run is on this Saturday, and His Excellency the President will be the guest of honour, and we are all ready,’ Mugisha announced. ‘To all of you who are my size (he is really massive), look for Golola; he will put you in shape for the run.’
Renowned kickboxer Moses Golola is also gearing up for the run. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’m in the final touches of my preparations for the Tooke Run down there in Bushenyi on Saturday,’ said the fighter famous for his comic antics.
‘I’m empowered by the amazing and nutritious products of Tooke: the crisps and biscuits are yummy, the bread very marvellous, and the porridge, oh my God. Golola loves porridge but Tooke porridge is wonderful. Give me some more,’ Golola said, sipping on a jar of porridge.
BRIEFLY
What: Olympic Day Tooke Run
When: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Categories: 5km, 10km, 21km
Kit fees: Shs35,000
Venue: Bushenyi District
Start Time: 6am
Prize money: Shs120m
Theme: ‘Move, Learn and Discover for Nutrition-Care’