David GOMBE
The 2026 Kabaka Birthday Run reached an exhilarating climax on Sunday, April 12, at Kabaka’s Palace, with gaming agency Betika rising as a key contributor to this yr’s impactful marketing campaign in opposition to HIV/AIDS.
For over a decade, the Buganda Kingdom has reworked the Kabaka’s birthday into a strong nationwide name to motion.
Now in its thirteenth version, the run—held below the theme “Males Towards HIV/AIDS to Save the Lady Little one”—continues to face as Uganda’s most influential annual mobilisation in opposition to the epidemic.
This yr’s occasion attracted greater than 140,000 runners from throughout the nation, a outstanding development from simply 1,000 members at its inception.
On the coronary heart of this momentum was Betika’s deliberate and structured contribution, underscoring its dedication to neighborhood funding past its core enterprise.
As a part of its engagement, Betika made a big sponsorship contribution, with the total quantity directed in the direction of HIV/AIDS consciousness, testing, and prevention initiatives nationwide.
Complementing this monetary assist, over 75 members of Betika employees actively participated within the run, collectively contributing to an total influence valued at greater than UGX 10 million.
“HIV/AIDS has touched each neighborhood in Uganda. The Kabaka Birthday Run stays some of the impactful platforms for consciousness, prevention, and motion.
Betika is proud to face alongside Ugandans in advancing Kabaka’s imaginative and prescient for a more healthy nation. Our dedication goes past leisure—we’re right here to assist the causes that really matter.
The Kabaka Birthday Run is greater than a race; it’s a nationwide platform for public well being motion, a celebration of Buganda’s cultural identification, and a unifying second for Ugandans,” a Betika consultant famous.
The funds realised from the run proceed to instantly assist HIV/AIDS programmes throughout the nation, contributing to measurable nationwide progress.
In response to UNAIDS, HIV prevalence amongst adults aged 15 to 49 declined from 7.3% in 2010 to 4.9% in 2024. New infections have dropped by 61%, from 96,000 to 37,000, whereas infections amongst younger folks aged 15–24 have lowered by 57%.
AIDS-related deaths have declined by 63%, with over 1.3 million Ugandans now accessing antiretroviral remedy.
Regardless of these beneficial properties, the 2030 goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public well being menace calls for sustained and collective motion—an effort to which Betika continues to align itself.
The corporate’s involvement within the Kabaka Birthday Run displays a broader technique of leveraging partnerships and community-driven initiatives to ship tangible, long-term influence.
Through the years, the run has performed a pivotal position in driving HIV testing, selling protected male circumcision, encouraging constant condom use, and strengthening remedy adherence.
These interventions have propelled Uganda nearer to the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with 94% of individuals residing with HIV conscious of their standing, 90% on remedy, and 97% reaching viral suppression.
By way of its continued assist, Betika has positioned itself on the forefront of company entities championing public well being causes—demonstrating that significant funding in communities can translate into actual, measurable change.