Cyclists converge at Packwach for Ker Alur Kingdom race
By Prisca Oroma
Following the lunch of MTN Uganda –Alur kingdom Bicycle recently, Hundreds of Pakwach residents converged at the Bar Omach to witness the maiden MTN-Sponsored Ker Alur Kingdom bicycle races that kicked off over the weekend.
The bicycle races which are a build-up to the 12th Coronation Anniversary of the King of Ker Alur, His Royal Majesty Ubimu Phillip Rauni III, in October, is in line with the Alur cultural values under the theme “Ending Child Pregnancies and Marriage in Alur land” as was chosen by the king of Ker Alur. .
According to the executive director Alur Kingdom, Vincent Ochaya Orach, the race attracted races including women, men and differently-abled people that participated in various races covering 10 kilometers for the men and 5 kilometers for the women.
Ochaya said that the top five winners in each category walked away with assorted cash prizes and secured their spots in the final race that is set to happen next month, ahead of the 12th coronation anniversary of the King in October.
Phillip Odoi, MTN Uganda’s Northern and West Nile Region Business Manager confirmed that the KerAlur MTN Bicycle race reinforces the agreement between MTN Uganda and Ker Alur that is aimed at uplifting the people of Alur Kingdom socioeconomically through sports, education, and health initiatives.
“As MTN, we are strongly grounded in the belief that we are good together. We only succeed if the communities in which we operate succeed. We are therefore happy to join hands with the Kingdom of Ker Alur to champion the fight against teenage pregnancies and early marriages through the Ker Alur MTN Bicycle race,” said Odoi.
Charles Ombidi, The Cultural Chief of Ker Kwonga Panyimur said that all the chiefdoms of Ker Alur are working hard to see an end to child marriages and teenage pregnancies in the Kingdom, and the bicycle races in one of the platforms they are using for sensitization of the masses.
“These races are evidently attracting more people, which is giving us an opportunity to sensitize our people against early marriages and teenage pregnancies, which are a major cause of poor maternal health in our region,” Ombidi said.
The next race is set to happen next weekend in Nebbi and then Zombo districts before the grand finale next month in Nebbi municipality.
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