Authorities in Mbarara have taken Dickens Friday Kaka, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mbarara City Marathon, into custody following a standoff with national sports regulators after he allegedly proceeded with the event in defiance of official orders.
The arrest followed a directive issued earlier this week by the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF), which instructed Kaka and his organizing team to suspend all preparations for the marathon.
The federation cited multiple compliance failures, including unmet administrative requirements and technical standards required to host a public road race.
At the centre of the dispute were safety concerns. UAF officials maintained that the organizers had not demonstrated adequate capacity to guarantee the safety of runners לאורך the race route, a prerequisite for sanctioning such events.
Despite the warning and the withdrawal of official approval, the marathon went ahead early Saturday morning.
The race began under heavy rainfall and, according to authorities, without the standard deployment of police officers or medical teams that typically accompany large public sporting events.
Participants were left to navigate open city roads alongside normal traffic in wet and slippery conditions.
Local officials described the situation as a serious breach of established sports regulations and a risk to public safety.
“The federation was very clear that this event did not meet the necessary safety benchmarks,” a regional sports official said. “By proceeding without clearance or security, the organizers placed the public at unnecessary risk.”
Following the conclusion of the race, police moved in and arrested Kaka. He is currently being held at Mbarara Central Police Station as investigations continue into alleged violations, including organizing an unauthorized public event and disregarding regulatory directives.
The Uganda Athletics Federation has previously warned that involvement in unsanctioned competitions can attract disciplinary action, including potential bans for both athletes and event organizers.
The incident casts uncertainty over the future of the Mbarara City Marathon, which had been positioned as a flagship event tied to the launch of operations at Mugaba Palace in Kamukuzi.
With investigations ongoing, attention now turns to whether charges will be filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
