More than 800 runners participated in the inaugural TMR Mama Run this Mother’s Day weekend, as TMR International Hospital brought together families, fitness enthusiasts, mothers, and community members for a wellness event dedicated to celebrating mothers and raising awareness about critical women’s health issues.
Held under the broader theme of promoting women’s wellness, the run focused not only on post- pregnancy restoration and maternal health, but also on increasing awareness about women’s cancers, peri- menopause, reproductive health, childbirth complications, mental wellness, fitness, and preventive healthcare for women across all age groups.
Runners began arriving as early as 5:00 AM at TMR International Hospital in Naalya, with participants ranging from children as young as three years old to elderly community members. Mothers formed a major part of the participants, as the run was specially organized in their honor.
The elite runners flagged off the 21-kilometer race at 6:30 AM, led by media personality and principal technical guide Robert Kabushenga. The route stretched from TMR International Hospital in Naalya to Namboole Stadium, looping through the Kisaasi Roundabout before returning to the hospital finish line.
The event featured 3km, 5km, 10km, and 21km race categories, making the run accessible to participants of all fitness levels.
Speaking after the event, Dr. Daniel M. Talemwa, Executive Director of TMR International Hospital, praised the overwhelming turnout and emphasized the urgent need for greater attention to women’s health and early screening.
“We are deeply humbled by the response from the public. More than 1,000 people signed up for the run, and all kits were sold out two days before the event. This shows the growing appreciation for wellness and maternal health in our community. We intend to make the Mama Run an annual event as part of our continued commitment to supporting mothers and promoting healthier communities.”
Dr. Talemwa noted that many women continue to discover serious illnesses at advanced stages, when treatment becomes more difficult and outcomes poorer.
“Too often, women come to hospital when the disease afflicting them is already advanced- when the cervical cancer is already invasive, when the breast cancer has already spread, or when complications after childbirth have silently affected their quality of life for years. Through initiatives like the Mama Run, we want to encourage women to prioritize routine screening, preventive healthcare, fitness, mental wellness, and timely medical reviews.”
He added that women frequently prioritize caring for their families while neglecting their own health.
“Many mothers are caregivers to everyone around them, yet they delay seeking care for themselves. We want to change that culture. Early detection saves lives. Routine screening for cervical cancer, breast cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and reproductive health conditions should become part of every woman’s wellness journey.”
Beyond the run, participants enjoyed dance workouts and aerobics sessions led by instructors from Marco’s Gym, free breakfast, and complimentary health screenings including blood glucose tests, cholesterol checks, blood pressure monitoring, BMI assessments,HIV testing, and blood grouping.
A health education panel discussion also formed part of the day’s activities, featuring Dr. Emmanuel Eladu, Obstetrician/Gynecologist and fertility expert, Dr. Charity Oneko, Gynecologist, and Dr. Simon
Kazibwe, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. The panel addressed topics including women’s cancers, peri-menopause, fertility health, childbirth complications such as obstetric fistulas, post-pregnancy body changes, and holistic approaches to women’s wellness and confidence restoration.
One of the highlights of the event was a raffle draw where 10 lucky participants won discounted “Mummy Makeover” procedures.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Simon Kazibwe said:
“The Mummy Makeover package includes procedures such as tummy tuck, Liposuction360, breast reduction, or breast lift procedures aimed at restoring body contour and confidence after childbirth changes.
In honor of mothers, we are also organizing a Plastic Surgery Camp from 18th to 23rd May, offering discounted procedures ranging from 30% to 50%.”
The event additionally marked the launch of the TMR Golden Living App, a comprehensive virtual healthcare platform offering telemedicine consultations, medication home deliveries, chronic disease management, pill reminders, and emergency response support.
Highlighting one of the app’s key innovations, Dr. Talemwa noted:
“With one tap of the Emergency Button, our emergency call center can immediately guide a patient through an emergency while dispatching the appropriate response team in real-time — from first
responders to Basic Life Support, Intermediate Life Support, and Advanced Life Support ambulances depending on the severity of the case.”
The TMR Golden Living App is available for download on both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.
TMR International Hospital continues to distinguish itself as a leader in healthcare innovation and excellence. The hospital was the first in Uganda to conduct a cochlear implant procedure in 2018, the first
in Sub-Saharan Africa to attain three ISO certifications simultaneously, and the first private hospital in Uganda to conduct closed-heart surgeries free of charge to beneficiaries last year. The hospital has also received recognition through awards including the Business Excellence Awards 2025 and the Centre of Excellence Awards 2025.
Through initiatives such as the Mama Run and innovations like the TMR Golden Living App, TMR International Hospital continues to advance its mission of promoting preventive healthcare, maternalwellness, fitness, and improved emergency medical access within the community.
