The Uganda Olympic Committee/Commonwealth Games Uganda (UOC/CGU) has intensified its campaign to improve sports performance through nutrition by unveiling an expanded partnership with Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) ahead of the Olympic Day Tooke Run 2026.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting in Bushenyi on Monday, UOC/CGU President Donald Rukare described the collaboration with PIBID/BIRDC as a transformative initiative linking sport, nutrition, agriculture and national development.
Addressing guests, partners and stakeholders, Rukare said the partnership was rooted in Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, adding that those ideals extend beyond athletics into community wellbeing and public health.
“It is a pleasure to welcome you to this important breakfast meeting as we advance preparations for the Olympic Day Tooke Run 2026,” he said.
“Today, we gather not only to plan an event, but to reaffirm a partnership that is reshaping how Uganda understands the relationship between sport, nutrition and national development.”
At the centre of the partnership is a commitment to improving nutrition for sports performance, with officials stressing that proper feeding is essential for endurance, recovery, concentration and long-term athlete development.
“Without proper nutrition, talent alone cannot carry an athlete to the podium,” Rukare noted.
The initiative also places emphasis on Uganda’s locally developed Tooke products, pioneered through innovation by PIBID/BIRDC in banana industrial development.
The products are being promoted as nutrient-rich food solutions capable of supporting both elite athletes and wider community health.
According to Rukare, the collaboration is intended to position sport as a platform for promoting healthy lifestyles while showcasing Uganda’s agricultural innovation.
“The Olympic Day Tooke Run is more than a celebration of Olympism,” he said.
“It is a call to action — encouraging communities to embrace healthier lifestyles, adopt better nutrition habits, and recognize how local innovation can support both everyday health and high-performance sport.”
The partnership comes as Uganda intensifies preparations for major international competitions, including the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar and the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Rukare said Ugandan athletes preparing for international competition deserve every possible advantage, adding that the partnership was strengthening the nutritional foundation required for resilience and competitive success.
“As President of the UOC/CGU, I reaffirm our long-term commitment to this partnership,” he stated.
“We are building systems that will outlast events — systems that support athletes, empower communities, and contribute to national development.”
Special recognition was extended to PIBID/BIRDC Director General and Tooke Ambassador Florence Isabirye Muranga for her role in advancing the initiative.
Rukare also called on partners and stakeholders to deepen their support, describing the collaboration as a unifying force connecting sports, nutrition and community wellbeing.
“Together, let us run for nutrition. Together, let us strengthen sports performance. Together, let us build a healthier, more competitive Uganda,” he said.
