KAMPALA, Uganda — Absa Bank Uganda has completed the distribution of 400 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $108,000) raised during its third annual Absa KH3_7 Hills Run. These crucial funds are now in the hands of eight partner organizations dedicated to empowering vulnerable girls across Uganda, with the aim of significantly improving their access to education, health, and vital opportunities.
The Absa KH3_7 Hills Run, an annual charity event held in partnership with the Kampala Hash House Harriers, brings together participants to navigate Kampala’s iconic seven hills while raising money for girls’ empowerment initiatives. Since its launch in 2023, the event has collectively raised an impressive 900 million Ugandan shillings (about $243,000), creating a substantial impact on thousands of lives.
Michael Segwaya, Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer at Absa Bank Uganda, emphasized the run’s broader mission. “The Absa KH3_7 Hills Run is more than a race; it is a platform to change lives,” Segwaya stated. “Through our collective action, we are accelerating progress toward a just and inclusive future, especially for young girls who face tremendous barriers to education. This initiative aligns with our purpose of being an active force for good and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 5 on gender equality.”
The 400 million shillings from the 2025 run have been strategically distributed to support a diverse range of critical programs:
- World Vision Uganda received 100 million Ugandan shillings. This funding will enhance menstrual hygiene management and provide clean water and sanitation in Eastern and Northern Uganda, benefiting 3,492 schoolchildren, including 1,648 girls.
- Windle International was allocated 60 million Ugandan shillings. This investment will procure smart school bags equipped with solar-powered lights and reusable menstrual hygiene products for over 600 girls in rural communities of Kitgum and Karamoja, addressing challenges posed by long commutes and lack of evening study light.
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation received 50 million Ugandan shillings. This support will cover school fees for adolescent girls and young women under the DREAMS program in Mubende, Kassanda, Mityana, and Fort Portal, ensuring their continued education.
- The Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project was granted 50 million Ugandan shillings. This will provide tuition, scholastic materials, menstrual hygiene supplies, and psychosocial care for 30 vulnerable girls in Rukungiri and Kanungu districts.
- Amref Health Africa received 50 million Ugandan shillings. These funds will facilitate the distribution of reusable sanitary pads and provide crucial reintegration support for teen mothers who have dropped out of school.
- Willow International was awarded 50 million Ugandan shillings. This will offer vocational skills training to girls rescued from human trafficking, promoting their independence and dignity.
- Katalemwa Cheshire Home received 40 million Ugandan shillings. This allocation will supply assistive devices, scholastic materials, and reusable sanitary pads, helping girls with disabilities remain in school.
- Smart Girls Uganda was granted 60 million Ugandan shillings. This support will empower girls in the remote Eastern and Northern regions of Uganda by training them to make solar-powered school bags, facilitating their continued education in areas with limited electricity.
Previous editions of the Absa KH3_7 Hills Run have already made significant impacts. Over 10,843 girls have received educational support since the initiative began. For instance, Windle International provided 266 girls in rural refugee settlements with bicycles, substantially reducing absenteeism and school dropout rates by easing their journeys to school. Testimonials from beneficiaries, like Sarah Lokiru from Karamoja, highlight the tangible improvements: “Thanks to the bursary and menstrual hygiene support, I no longer miss school during my periods,” Lokiru shared.
The Absa KH3_7 Hills Run continues to be a pivotal event on Uganda’s social impact calendar, uniting individuals, corporate partners, and development organizations under the powerful theme of “Run for Her.”
