All Set for Saturday’s Annual Ascot Goat Race in Munyonyo

By Our Reporter

This coming Saturday, October 12, 2019, all roads lead to Speke Resort Munyonyo for this year’s annual Ascot Goat Race.

Spectators can also bet on goats through a preliminary parade around the track and a bettors’ guide that describes each goat, spectators can gauge possible winners.

The goat races will entail eight races over the course of the day, with each race featuring eight goats. Anyone can sponsor a race, or buy a goat to participate in a race.

Races go for anything between Shs6m and Shs10m while goats go for between Shs500, 000 and Shs1m. Already, Gold Star, Euro flex and Orient Bank have acquired goats of their own.

The Royal Ascot Goat Races, held at the Speke Resort on the shores of Lake Victoria, have been an annual Kampala tradition since 1993. It’s arguably the biggest event on the Ugandan social calendar.

What to expect

The Royal Ascot Goat Race in Kampala, began in 1993. When Entebbe Sailing Club considered fund-raising ideas, they adopted the idea of a goat race which started out on the grounds of the Kampala Rugby Club with 400 people in attendance.

By 1998, it outgrew this facility and was moved to Speke Resort Munyonyo, in 1999 and grossed ten million Uganda shillings and attracted over 7,000 people in 2005.

Along with size, the goat race also grew in scale. It quickly evolved into a whole day event modelled on the Royal Ascot horse races in Ascot England and a purse of more than 30 million UGX is awarded to the winning goat’s owners.

Similar to the Royal Ascot horse races, there is as much emphasis on dress, in particular unusual hats with prizes awarded to the best dressed couple, man, woman, and child, as well as to the person wearing the most extravagant hat and best goat name.

Rajiv, City Tycoon Sudhir’s son and event host said: “The Goat Races are more than just another event in Uganda, it’s a place where people can come and network and mix along with business, pleasure and have a fun humorous time with good food and drinks all day long.”   Tusker Malt  is one of the Platinum sponsor of the Goat Races.

Away from the goats racing, the event boasts a rich tradition as the most exuberant unofficial fashion showcase in Uganda, and the organizers expect no different this year. Kampala’s fun seekers will certainly oblige them.

Tickets to the Goat Races will go for Shs50, 000, with early bird offers at Shs30, 000. VIP, which entitles you access to the owners’ hospitality tent costs Shs350, 000 for early Bird and Shs400, 000 at the gate.

Proceeds from betting go to local charities, that will include improving the sanitation of the Good Samaritan School in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.