Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Rev. Prof. Florence I. Muranga (left) during the launch of the run routes
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Kampala
"Today's well-nourished child is tomorrow's champion." That was the call from Florence Isabirye Muranga on Friday as she unveiled the Olympic Day Tooke Run, a national campaign placing nutrition at the heart of Uganda's sports and development agenda.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kampala, the Nutrition Ambassador for Uganda Olympics and Commonwealth Games said the June 20 run in Bushenyi District is more than a sporting event; it is a deliberate intervention against child malnutrition and a platform to fuel Uganda's athletes ahead of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026.
"Malnutrition at the weaning stage remains one of the greatest barriers to good health, education, and athletic development," said Rev. Prof. Muranga, who also serves as Director General of PIBID/BIRDC and Secretary of the Banana Management Committee of PIBID.
"As Nutrition Ambassador, my commitment extends beyond athletes. It reaches every child in Uganda," she added.
Rev. Prof. Florence I. Muranga
A Reverend's Call to Nutrition Care
Under the theme, "Move, Learn, Discover with Nutrition Care," the Olympic Day Tooke Run seeks to make nutrition accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Rev. Prof. Muranga, an Associate Professor at Mbarara University of Science and Technology with a PhD in Biochemistry, framed the run as both a scientific and moral imperative.
"Early childhood is a critical stage of development," she explained. "The developing brain requires essential nutrients to fuel rapid cognitive development. Rapid physical maturation places immense demand on a growing body. Consuming high-quality nutrition drastically reduces the risk of chronic stunting."
She cited the WHO/UNICEF Report 2024, which shows stunting at 25–29% and anemia affecting half of children under five in Uganda. "Many illnesses later in life are traceable to poor nutrition in early childhood," she said.
From Pulpit to Podium: TOOKE as a Nutritional Solution
At the center of the campaign is TOOKE, an instant flour made from East African highland green bananas, developed by PIBID/BIRDC. Rev. Prof. Muranga described it as a "nutritional powerhouse" that is 100% gluten-free, with over 70% resistant starch for sustained energy, plus potassium and serotonin for heart health and stamina.
"Through demand-driven research and development, we have bridged the gap, transforming fresh green bananas into convenient, premium, export-ready industrial commodities," she said. "Our TOOKE flours preserve 100% of the natural nutrients."
The product is now the official nutrition partner for Team Uganda following a March 14, 2026, three-year partnership between BIRDC, the Uganda Olympic Committee, and Commonwealth Games Uganda.
Nutrition for Performance, Nutrition for Life
Rev. Prof. Muranga stressed that nutrition is non-negotiable for sporting success.
"Without proper nutrition, peak performance is not sustainable," she said. "Intense physical activity causes micro-tears in muscle tissue. High-quality nutrition provides the essential building blocks needed to repair these tears, build new muscle fibres, and significantly reduce recovery time."
But her message went beyond elite sport.
"We may start humbly, perhaps with as little as a cup of TOOKE porridge, but together, we shall ignite a dynamic cogwheel of innovation."
A UGX 4.47 Billion Act of Faith
Quoting her mentor, Edmund Haggai, "Attempt something so great for God that it is doomed to fail unless God is in it," Rev. Prof. Muranga announced a UGX 4.47 billion mobilization for the initiative's inception year.
UGX 2.5 billion will go toward a nutritional legacy fund, while UGX 1.97 billion will facilitate the staging of 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 behind this cause of nutritional access," she 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 Olympic Day Tooke Run, scheduled for June 20 in Bushenyi, will celebrate Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect while promoting nutrition care for Team Uganda and strengthening early childhood feeding practices.
"Let us rise together, let us act together, let us build together, and together let us take TOOKE to the world," Rev. Prof. Muranga concluded. "For God and My Country."
Rev. Prof. Florence I. Muranga holds a BSc (MUK), Dip. Ed. (MUK), MSc Food Option (University of Reading, UK), PhD in Biochemistry (MUK), and an MBA (ESAMI). She also serves as Secretary General of PACEID and Ambassador for Global Women in Finance at the Africa Global Chamber of Commerce.
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