OWF KAMPALA CYCLING DAY WITH KCCA

Healthy People, Healthy City: OWF Joins Kampala Cycling Day

   At Open World Foundation (OWF), we believe that healthy communities are built one step, or in this case, one pedal stroke, at a time. That’s why our team was proud to join the streets of Kampala on 28th August 2026 for Kampala Cycling Day, held under the theme “Healthy People, Healthy City” and the hashtag #CyclingForCleanAir.

Organized by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the event was led by the Assistant Executive Director of KCCA and brought together a wide coalition of partners including the European Union, ITDP, Fun Cycling Uganda, CityMove, BYCS Kampala, the World Resources Institute, LifeCyclers Uganda, Safeway Right Way, eBee, and Akiyo FM 88.2 all rallying around a shared cause: promoting active, healthy living and cleaner air in our city.

Riding With a Mission

The free, open-to-the-public ride kicked off from Kampala City Hall between 8:30am and 11am, where OWF representatives geared up alongside fellow riders, KCCA officials, and members of the wider cycling community. Clad in our signature Open World Foundation vests, our team joined the convoy as it wound through the busy streets of Kampala, a vivid reminder that even in the heart of a bustling city, there is room for movement, wellness, and cleaner air for everyone.

For OWF, this wasn’t just about the ride. It was a natural extension of our commitment to Health and Well-being, one of the four pillars of our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. Under this pillar, we recognize that physical activity and community engagement are powerful  and often overlooked tools for improving mental health and psychosocial well-being, particularly among the urban youth who make up a significant share of Kampala’s population.

Cycling as a Pathway to Mental Wellness

Uganda’s youth carry heavy burdens: unemployment, dependency, and the invisible weight of poverty and stress. Our Strategic Plan identifies mental health and psychosocial support as a critical, often under-addressed, component of breaking the intergenerational poverty trap. Community-based activities like group cycling create spaces for social connection, reduce isolation, and build peer support networks, all while getting people moving.

Events like Kampala Cycling Day align directly with this vision. They offer accessible, low-cost, high-impact opportunities for young people and city residents alike to prioritize their physical and mental health together, side by side with local leadership.

Strengthening Partnerships, One Ride at a Time

Beyond the physical benefits, days like this matter to OWF because they open doors. Riding alongside KCCA leadership and other stakeholders reflects the kind of strategic partnerships we are committed to building collaborations with government, city authorities, and community networks that expand our reach and deepen our impact across Kampala and beyond.

As a young but growing organization, OWF understands that lasting change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when institutions, communities, and individuals come together sometimes literally, on two wheels toward a shared goal of healthier, more empowered communities.

Looking Ahead

We’re grateful to KCCA and the Assistant Executive Director for leading such a meaningful initiative, and to everyone who came out to ride. At Open World Foundation, we’ll continue to seek out and create  opportunities like this one, where wellness, community, and partnership intersect.

“Interested in partnering with Open World Foundation on health and wellness initiatives in your community?” Get in touch with our team to learn more about our Health Pillar programming.