Sport and nutrition, when deliberately combined, can become powerful drivers of national transformation, Reverend Professor Florence Isabirye Muranga has said.
Speaking at Sheraton Kampala Hotel during the launch of the Olympic Tooke Run, the Director General of the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) and Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC) said Uganda must rethink development through an integrated approach that links health, innovation and sport.
“We move through sport, health and community engagement. We learn by embracing the science of nutrition and the innovation behind TOOKE products. And we discover the power of Uganda’s own resources to fuel athletes, nurture children and strengthen communities,” she said.
The event unveiled the Olympic Day – Tooke Run, a partnership between PIBID and the Uganda Olympic Committee. The run will take place on June 20 in Bushenyi District, featuring both a competitive race and wider community participation activities.
Organisers expect the initiative to raise Shs 2.5 billion, with Shs 1.97 billion earmarked for the Olympic Day – Tooke Run. The funds will support Ugandan athletes as they prepare for major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar scheduled for July and October.
Beyond sport, the initiative is being positioned as a platform for promoting Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, while also advancing nutrition awareness and improving early childhood feeding practices.
Professor Muranga stressed that sporting success is increasingly dependent on science-backed nutrition rather than talent alone.
“The human body requires high-quality fuel, particularly carbohydrates and healthy fats, to sustain energy,” she explained, noting that these nutrients are stored as glycogen in muscles and the liver to enhance endurance and delay fatigue.
She added that intense training leads to micro-tears in muscles, making recovery nutrition critical.
“Proper nutrition helps repair muscle fibres, build new tissue and reduce recovery time between sessions,” she said, adding that hydration and electrolyte balance are essential for body temperature control, muscle function and cardiovascular stability.
Muranga further highlighted that maintaining the right body composition improves athletic efficiency. “Without proper nutrition, peak performance is not sustainable,” she warned.
She also extended the message to early childhood development, stressing that nutrition is a long-term investment in national human capital.
“Today’s well-nourished child is tomorrow’s champion,” she said, noting that access to affordable and nutritious food is essential for cognitive development and healthy growth.
She warned that poor nutrition in early life can lead to irreversible physical and mental impairments, including stunting, and stressed the need for accessible and sustainable food systems.
Speaking at the same event, Uganda Olympic Committee President Dr Donald Rukare said the partnership is anchored on the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.
“Excellence demands dedication and resilience. For athletes to achieve it, they need proper nutrition—not only for performance but for overall well-being,” he said.
Dr Rukare said the partnership reflects a broader vision of using sport as a tool for transformation and national pride, while aligning with Uganda’s development goals.
He also noted that the initiative supports efforts to transform matooke from a subsistence crop into a competitive value-added product under the PIBID/BIRDC programme.
“We believe sport can help accelerate that transformation,” he said.
Dr Rukare added that the collaboration also focuses on preparing athletes for major competitions, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
“These events are not just competitions—they build international friendships and inspire the next generation of Ugandan champions,” he said.
