The Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID), in partnership with the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), is spearheading a national campaign to combat child malnutrition and support elite sports through the Olympic Day Tooke Run, set for June 20, 2026, in Bushenyi District. The campaign is led by Rev. Prof. Florence Isabirye Muranga, Secretary of the Banana Management Committee of PIBID, Director General of PIBID/BIRDC, and Nutrition Ambassador for Uganda Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
Operating under the theme “Move, Learn, Discover with Nutrition-Care,” the initiative directly supports the Government’s priorities on agro-industrialization, human capital development, and the Parish Development Model by linking indigenous agriculture to sports excellence and public health.“This is not merely a slogan. It is a call to action for all Ugandans,” Prof. Muranga said. “The Presidential Initiative is leveraging science and innovation to ensure our own resources fuel athletes, nurture children and strengthen communities.”
Government-Led Partnership for Sport and Nutrition.
The Olympic Day Tooke Run is a product of a strategic three-year partnership signed on March 14, 2026, between UOC, Commonwealth Games Uganda, and the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC). The agreement designated TOOKE, the instant flour developed from East African highland green banana, as the official nutrition partner for Team Uganda. Prof. Muranga said the run is designed to achieve four strategic national objectives:Support excellence in sport, including sponsoring Ugandan athletes to the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.Raise critical nutritional support for vulnerable populations, particularly children in the weaning phase.Foster adoption of healthy lifestyles through communal physical activities while showcasing TOOKE as a sustainable energy source.Strengthen the banana value chain by creating visibility and harnessing linkages to global market chains.Addressing National Malnutrition Targets
The campaign responds to urgent national health indicators. Citing the WHO/UNICEF Report 2024, Prof. Muranga noted that stunting affects approximately 25–29% of children under five in Uganda, with anemia affecting half of children under five.“Malnutrition at the weaning stage remains one of the greatest barriers to good health, education and athletic development,” she said. “As a Nutrition Ambassador, my commitment extends beyond athletes. It reaches every child in Uganda because today’s well-nourished child is tomorrow’s champion”.
Innovation From Farm to Podium.
Through PIBID/BIRDC’s research and development, the East African highland green banana has been transformed into TOOKE, a premium, export-ready commodity. The 100% gluten-free flour contains over 70% resistant starch for sustained energy and naturally occurring potassium and serotonin for cardiovascular health and stamina.“Without proper nutrition, peak performance is not sustainable,” Prof. Muranga explained. “Intense physical activity causes micro-tears in muscle tissue. High-quality nutrition provides the essential building blocks needed to repair these tears and reduce recovery time”.UGX 4.47 Billion National Mobilization
For its inception year, the Presidential Initiative in partnership with the Uganda Olympic Committee is mobilizing UGX 4.47 billion. UGX 2.5 billion will establish a nutritional legacy fund, while UGX 1.97 billion is dedicated to staging the Olympic Day Tooke Run.“On behalf of PIBID/BIRDC and the UOC fraternity, I hereby invite all our esteemed partners, sponsors and the sports fraternity to rally to this cause of nutritional access,” Prof. Muranga said. “Your contribution is not just funding an event. It is investing in a healthier nation, a stronger sports sector and a more resilient agricultural economy”.
The June 20 event in Bushenyi will commemorate Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, while advancing the Presidential Initiative’s mandate to add value to Uganda’s banana resource.“By integrating our indigenous agricultural wealth with world-class sports nutrition know-how, we are not merely running a race,” Prof. Muranga concluded. “We are paving a commercialisation roadmap that empowers rural green banana farmers while fuelling our national champions as well as solving malnutrition of children”.
