One hundred Ugandan cyclists are heading to Nairobi for the fifth Jubilee Live Free Race, backed by UGX 33 million from Jubilee Insurance.
At the flag-off event held at Sanyuka Restaurant, Lubiri Gardens, Mengo, organisers said Team Uganda has undergone extensive training to maintain its strong record in the race.
Team Uganda will seek to defend its dominance in the annual Jubilee Live Free Bike Race, scheduled for Sunday at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, Kenya. Uganda has won all four previous editions in the main race category.
Jubilee Insurance has committed UGX 33 million in cash sponsorship to Team Uganda. Speaking at the flag-off, Team Uganda chef de mission Ismail Lance Ssebayiga said the team is targeting another strong performance. Last year’s race attracted 3,500 cyclists from 20 nations.
“We are coming back to defend our title. Besides the usual names, we have added other top riders who will put us in a stronger position to compete for the top spots. Some of the riders to look out for include Lawrence Lorot, Mugalu Shafiq, Miiro Paul, Biyinzika Davis and Hatim Kagaba. In total, it is a team of 100 cyclists,”.
“Our utmost gratitude goes to Jubilee Insurance, which has ensured that Uganda has been ably represented in all editions of the Nairobi Bike Race. This competition has helped our riders stay in top shape and hone their skills by competing against some of the best riders in the region and beyond,” said Ssebayiga
Under-23 rider Natume Miria, who returned from a five-month cycling camp in France, said she gained new skills in cornering, time management and nutrition at Britam Joselyen in France.
“I am ready to compete for the title,” she says.
Jordan Schleck Ssekanwagi, winner of the inaugural race in 2019, returned to claim gold last year, narrowly beating defending champion and 2024 Olympian Charles Kagimu. In the women’s main race, Maria Aleper took silver.
Uganda also swept the Black Mamba category, with Willy Kato, Dominik Mugonda and Aziz Ssempijja taking gold, silver and bronze respectively. Augustine Ssebulime won silver in the Para category.
Speaking on behalf of Jubilee Insurance, Senior Manager for Marketing and Communications Camilla Mindru challenged the team to build on its previous success.
“Last year, you delivered strong performances across the different categories. That is a strong foundation, but we can aim even higher this year. The goal should be to compete for the top spot in every category and see how far we can push ourselves as Team Uganda,” said Mindru.
“For Jubilee Insurance, this is much more than a race. It is about sustainability, physical empowerment and holistic wellness, which are central to our Live Free philosophy. We want to encourage people to stay active, make healthier choices and live to their full potential without being held back by the unexpected,” she added.
The race has a prize purse of more than UGX 100 million, with cyclists competing in six categories: Main Race, Team Race, Black Mamba, Family Fun Ride, Kiddies and Para Cyclist.
The Jubilee Live Free Race, powered by the Grand Nairobi Bike Race (GNBR), is an annual cycling event held in Nairobi. It attracts cyclists from Kenya and across East Africa, including Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi, as well as riders from other countries.
Launched in 2021, the Jubilee Live Free Race has grown into a major regional competition, while the broader Grand Nairobi Bike Race began in 2019. The 2024 edition attracted riders representing 18 nationalities, while the 2025 event drew participants from more than 20 countries.
The event caters to elite and recreational cyclists, families, children and para-cyclists. It promotes physical wellness, sustainable mobility and environmental conservation while supporting community initiatives such as prosthetic access and tree planting.
Ugandans have been among the strongest foreign competitors since the event became a Jubilee-branded race.
Ugandans competed in the inaugural Jubilee Live Free Race in 2022, which attracted nearly 1,200 riders from Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Eritrea, Burundi and Rwanda. Maria Natongo won the women’s 80km elite race, while Kenya’s Evans Wangari won the men’s race.
In 2023, Jubilee sponsored 50 Ugandan cyclists to travel to Nairobi. Paul Lomuria won the main elite race, Jordan Ssekanwagi won the U23 category and Dawson Ssenabulya finished second in Black Mamba.
Uganda’s representation expanded in 2024, with about 100 cyclists expected to compete. Lomuria had won the previous year’s main race, Charles Kagimu finished third, Ssekanwagi fourth and Ssenabulya second in Black Mamba.
Kagimu later became a major Ugandan name in the race, winning the 2024 main race before representing Uganda at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Key Ugandan Results
- Jordan Ssekanwagi: Won the inaugural 2019 Grand Nairobi Bike Race, the 2023 U23 category and the 2025 75km main race.
- Paul Lomuria: Won the 2023 main race.
- Charles Kagimu: Won the 2024 main race, finished second in 2025 and represented Uganda at Paris 2024.
- Dawson Ssenabulya: Finished second in Black Mamba in 2023.
- Mary Aleper: Finished second in the women’s 75km race in 2025.
- Willy Kato: Won the 2025 Black Mamba race.
- Maria Natongo: Won the women’s elite race at the 2022 inaugural Jubilee Live Free Race.
100 Ugandan Cyclists Head to Nairobi for Jubilee Live Free Race with UGX 33M Backing
