CK Updates
Betika emerges as key contributor at Kabaka Birthday Run – The Panorama Uganda
David GOMBE
The 2026 Kabaka Birthday Run reached an exhilarating climax on Sunday, April 12, at Kabaka’s Palace, with gaming agency Betika rising as a key contributor to this yr’s impactful marketing campaign in opposition to HIV/AIDS.
For over a decade, the Buganda Kingdom has reworked the Kabaka’s birthday into a strong nationwide name to motion.
Now in its thirteenth version, the run—held below the theme “Males Towards HIV/AIDS to Save the Lady Little one”—continues to face as Uganda’s most influential annual mobilisation in opposition to the epidemic.
This yr’s occasion attracted greater than 140,000 runners from throughout the nation, a outstanding development from simply 1,000 members at its inception.
On the coronary heart of this momentum was Betika’s deliberate and structured contribution, underscoring its dedication to neighborhood funding past its core enterprise.
As a part of its engagement, Betika made a big sponsorship contribution, with the total quantity directed in the direction of HIV/AIDS consciousness, testing, and prevention initiatives nationwide.
Complementing this monetary assist, over 75 members of Betika employees actively participated within the run, collectively contributing to an total influence valued at greater than UGX 10 million.
“HIV/AIDS has touched each neighborhood in Uganda. The Kabaka Birthday Run stays some of the impactful platforms for consciousness, prevention, and motion.
Betika is proud to face alongside Ugandans in advancing Kabaka’s imaginative and prescient for a more healthy nation. Our dedication goes past leisure—we’re right here to assist the causes that really matter.
The Kabaka Birthday Run is greater than a race; it’s a nationwide platform for public well being motion, a celebration of Buganda’s cultural identification, and a unifying second for Ugandans,” a Betika consultant famous.
The funds realised from the run proceed to instantly assist HIV/AIDS programmes throughout the nation, contributing to measurable nationwide progress.
In response to UNAIDS, HIV prevalence amongst adults aged 15 to 49 declined from 7.3% in 2010 to 4.9% in 2024. New infections have dropped by 61%, from 96,000 to 37,000, whereas infections amongst younger folks aged 15–24 have lowered by 57%.
AIDS-related deaths have declined by 63%, with over 1.3 million Ugandans now accessing antiretroviral remedy.
Regardless of these beneficial properties, the 2030 goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public well being menace calls for sustained and collective motion—an effort to which Betika continues to align itself.
The corporate’s involvement within the Kabaka Birthday Run displays a broader technique of leveraging partnerships and community-driven initiatives to ship tangible, long-term influence.
Through the years, the run has performed a pivotal position in driving HIV testing, selling protected male circumcision, encouraging constant condom use, and strengthening remedy adherence.
These interventions have propelled Uganda nearer to the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with 94% of individuals residing with HIV conscious of their standing, 90% on remedy, and 97% reaching viral suppression.
By way of its continued assist, Betika has positioned itself on the forefront of company entities championing public well being causes—demonstrating that significant funding in communities can translate into actual, measurable change.
Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.
Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.
A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.
“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
More to follow.
Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.
But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.
A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.
Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.
Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.
Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.
Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.
He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.
Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.
“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.
“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.
“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.
“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.
“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”
Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”
Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”
Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”
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