Activated Women Uganda (AWU) is a community movement and event series that promotes women’s fitness, wellness, and advocacy through running.
It was founded in 2023 by Agnes Kasule, Fiona Ssozi, Maren Hald Bjørgum, and Alex Matovu — a team of runners and sports enthusiasts working in partnership with Activate Uganda, the country’s leading sports events and adventure management company.
AWU organizes two annual events: the Women’s Day Run (March 8, International Women’s Day) and the upcoming Mother’s Day Run (second Sunday of May, launching 2026). Both are timed fun runs designed to encourage women and their families to get active, stay active, and spark conversations about the challenges and joys of active, healthy living.
Our Story
It all began on March 8th, 2023, when the very first Women’s Day Run took place in Muyenga, Kampala. We had talked about creating this space for years — a space where women could run freely, talk openly, and celebrate strength without apology. That inaugural run gathered 70 participants and sparked something bigger than we imagined.
Afterwards, the conversations kept flowing — so much that we created a women-only WhatsApp group called Activated Women. What started as a chat has since grown into a community: women supporting women to stay active, stay healthy, and share the realities of balancing life, fitness, and wellness.
From those roots, Activate Women Uganda (AWU) was born. Today, we host the Women’s Day Run and the upcoming Mother’s Day Run, creating annual spaces for exercise, conversation, and impact.
Out Commitment
We believe in a simple truth: an active woman positively influences her family, her community, and her environment. Staying fit is not just good for women themselves — it’s good for everyone around them.
Although our runs are not charity races, each one is built around an intentional cause.
- The Women’s Day Run supports the Mercy Line menstrual kit program, keeping girls in school.
- The Mother’s Day Run (launching 2026) will support the Athletic Scholarship Fund, helping talented children access opportunities in sport.
- We’ve also supported the children of Noah’s Ark with running shoes.
Since 2023, we’ve raised over UGX 14 million for these causes, and we continue to use running as a way to spark change.
Meet our team
The events are championed by Activate Women Uganda, and managed by Activate Uganda, the country’s leading sports events and adventure management company.
Since 2010, Activate Uganda has brought world-class standards to Uganda’s running, mountain biking, swimming, and multi-sport events — with flagship challenges like 100 Days of Running and 365 Days of Running, Activate Uganda has helped thousands of Ugandans make fitness a part of everyday life.
Agnes Kasule
Race Director
Fiona Ssozi
Director of Philanthropy and Fundraising
Maren Hald Bjørgum
Director of Publicity
Alex Matovu
Technical Director |
Founder & MD, Activate Uganda