Absa Bank Uganda has officially handed over Sh400 million raised during the third edition of the Absa KH3 7 Hills Run, a yearly charity event aimed at supporting vulnerable girls across Uganda. The funds were donated to eight partner organizations working in the areas of education, health, and empowerment of young girls.
The handover event took place in Kampala, where Michael Segwaya, Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer at Absa Bank Uganda, said the initiative was more than just a race.
“The Absa KH3 7 Hills Run is more than a race. It is a platform to change lives,” he said.
“Through our collective action, we are accelerating progress toward a just and inclusive future, especially for young girls who face tremendous barriers to education.”
Segwaya added that the run aligns with Absa’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 5 on gender equality.
The Absa KH3 7 Hills Run, held in collaboration with the Kampala Hash House Harriers, is a unique fundraising marathon that takes participants across the seven iconic hills of Kampala. Since it began in 2023, the event has so far raised a total of Sh900 million.
The money has been used to support over 10,843 girls across Uganda with a focus on keeping them in school, improving menstrual hygiene, providing safe water, enhancing school infrastructure, and offering skills and transport support.
One of the most impactful interventions was done through Amref Health Africa and World Vision Uganda, where reusable sanitary pads were distributed and new sanitation facilities constructed at Awach Primary School in Abim District. This single project benefitted 5,700 people, including 897 girls.
“We’ve seen a marked improvement in attendance and academic performance since the sanitation facilities were installed,” said a teacher from Awach Primary School.
In refugee settlements, Windle International provided 266 girls with bicycles to help them overcome the challenge of long and unsafe journeys to school. This effort has helped reduce absenteeism and the risk of dropping out, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Other programs run by Amref Health Africa also focused on teen mothers, offering them skills training and school reintegration support.
One of the beneficiaries, Sarah Lokiru, a schoolgirl from Karamoja, shared her testimony:
“Thanks to the bursary and menstrual hygiene support, I no longer miss school during my periods.”
These initiatives have had a ripple effect in many communities, not only keeping girls in school but also changing attitudes around gender equality and the role of education in fighting poverty.
Absa Bank Uganda has emphasized its long-term commitment to making an impact in communities through corporate social responsibility (CSR). The bank said it plans to continue scaling the KH3 7 Hills Run and partnering with more organizations to ensure that even more girls across Uganda can access the opportunities they deserve.
“This is how we give meaning to our purpose as a bank—to be an active force for good,” Segwaya said.
The event has become one of Uganda’s leading charity runs, bringing together runners, corporate sponsors, schools, and community leaders in a show of unity for a shared cause.
As preparations for the next edition of the KH3 7 Hills Run begin, Absa has called on more individuals and organisations to get involved and support the campaign to build an inclusive future for every girl in Uganda.
