Chemonges Secures Redemption and Shs40 Million at Rwenzori Marathon

After a disappointing performance in the previous year where he got lost on the course, Leonard Chemonges found redemption in the Rwenzori Marathon, clinching the men’s 42km title with a dominant display. The 35-year-old elite runner clocked a course record of two hours, 13 minutes, and 25 seconds, beating the previous mark set by Abel Chelangat by 94 seconds.

This victory not only marked a triumphant return for Chemonges but also earned him his largest prize money to date: Shs40 million, sponsored by the government through the National Council of Sports (NCS). Chemonges expressed his satisfaction with the race, noting his three months of dedicated preparation for the event.

His winning time was just shy of his personal best of 2:11:00 achieved at the Daegu Marathon in South Korea in 2025. Chemonges, who trains in Kween with coach Peter Chelangat and is part of the Rosa Associati camp alongside Jacob Kiplimo, plans to invest his winnings in land or livestock.

The race, flagged off by Sports Minister Hon. Peter Ogwang, saw increased participation and a higher caliber of athletes, attributed by the minister to the attractive prize money. The event, engineered by Amos Wekesa, also saw a significant rise in overall participants across various race categories, drawing over 8,600 individuals from 43 countries. For the first time, the marathon was broadcast live globally via the World Athletics YouTube page, further enhancing its reach and prestige.

In the women’s 42km race, Kenya’s Margaret Japchumba also claimed the top prize of Shs40 million with a time of 2:39:15.