In a stunning display of endurance and strategic pacing, prominent professional athlete Kephar Lumbasi Namutala has officially won the 21st edition of the Kigali International Peace Marathon. Crossing the finish line at the newly renovated Amahoro National Stadium, Namutala claimed the men’s Full Marathon championship title with a formidable official time of 2:14:19.
Namutala’s victory in Kigali further solidifies his reputation as a dominant force in major road races across the African continent. Prior to today’s triumph, he was already widely celebrated for his first-place finish at the Abuja Premium Trust Half Marathon, where he clocked a winning time of 1:05:14, as well as a strong top-three finish at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon with a time of 2:12:25.
A Milestone 21st Edition: The New Two-Day Format Namutala’s victory arrives during a landmark weekend for the prestigious World Athletics Global Elite Label race. For the first time in its history, the Kigali International Peace Marathon expanded into a comprehensive two-day format over the weekend of June 13 and 14, 2026. Organizers implemented the change to streamline race logistics, accommodate growing international participation, and significantly boost local sports tourism.
The weekend of athleticism kicked off on Saturday, June 13, with the non-competitive 10km Run for Peace. The community-centric event proved to be a massive success, drawing over 4,000 casual joggers, local residents, and visiting dignitaries to the streets of Kigali.
Sunday, June 14, was reserved entirely for the elite and professional competitive categories, bringing world-class running to the forefront:
-
Full Marathon (42.195 km): Flagged off in the early morning hours at 6:15 AM to help athletes avoid the mid-day heat, concluding with Namutala’s triumphant finish.
-
Half Marathon (21.097 km): Kicked off shortly after at 8:15 AM, featuring a highly competitive international roster.
Elite Payouts and National Pride The Kigali International Peace Marathon has matched its prestigious label with highly lucrative, international-standard prize distributions. As the Full Marathon champion, Namutala will take home a grand prize of 30,000,000 FRW (approximately $20,000 USD). Cash prizes in the Full Marathon category are distributed down to the 8th-place finisher for both men and women. Meanwhile, first-place finishers in the Half Marathon category will receive 7,000,000 FRW.
Local fans also had plenty to cheer for, as Team Rwanda officially called up a dedicated national team of 14 athletes to represent the host country across both elite competitive categories.
Traffic Advisories and Live Results As the elite races wrap up and post-marathon celebrations get underway at Amahoro National Stadium, the Rwanda National Police continues to enforce special traffic advisories and diversions for major city roads surrounding the stadium and primary running corridors. Residents and travelers are encouraged to use alternative routes through the afternoon.
For fans following the day’s action, unofficial live podium placements and timing results are being continuously updated on the Official Kigali Marathon Platform. Fully confirmed, official times will be published by race organizers next week.
