Story
After what I saw and was told, I came to the conclusion that many young local runners possess enormous potential but lack a proper pair of running shoes, basically the only thing you truly need to go running.
This experience inspired me to develop my bachelor’s project around this idea. I set up a small-scale non-profit initiative in Belgium to collect as many pairs of running shoes as possible and send or bring them to Kapchorwa.
During the research for this project, I discovered, in collaboration with local contacts, that the success and potential of the running youth in Kapchorwa,
Another example is the local honey, which is harvested from a very specific type of bee said by locals to exist only in the Elgon region. What makes this bee unique is that it builds its colonies underground, making them easy to harvest. Moreover, this tiny bee species is stingless, so collecting the honey is practical and requires no protective clothing. The honey itself has a bittersweet flavor, making it a perfect pick-me-up or energy source for local athletes.
After visiting the Mosopisyek community and spend some time with them, they asked me to tell all my friends and family about their culture and problematics. So did I, and so I will with this documentary. Together with them.
Through the documentary, based on interviews with locals, I aim to explore how the unique interplay between nature, the people over there, and sport not only shapes world-class athletes but also offers broader reflections on how human culture and ecosystems can strengthen one another.
This facts had an extra special meaning to me since I grow up interested in nature, with specific passions for wildlife and nature conservation.
The film will highlight the contrast and connection between two seemingly distant worlds: Olympic-level sport and the traditional life of forest-based communities.
But beneath the surface lies a much richer story, one that connects elite sport with culture, tradition, and the natural environment.
This insight became the main source of inspiration for my current work: my master’s project, making a documentary together and about the local culture. Central to this story is the Mosopisyek, a politically repressed community deeply connected to the nearby forests and rainforests.
Their traditions, rituals, and relationship with the land form an essential yet often overlooked foundation of Uganda’s athletic excellence.
For example, within the Mosopisyek community, the “sseewyondet” plant is widely used, a type of nettle believed to promote longevity and rich in natural nutrients beneficial for runners. Like other forest-grown crops, it is used in the herb-filled drink “lakweet”, a powerhouse of strengthening and fresh vitamins, ideal as a recovery beverage.
- Mauro Van Reusel
- Charis Media Kapchorwa
By weaving these elements together, the documentary will not only tell the local story of Kapchorwa but will also invite global audiences to reflect on the state of our societies and the urgent need to reconnect with our environments.
The central question is this: in a world marked by polarization and quick judgment, dialogue, interaction, and overlap between diverse communities and ways of life are more necessary than ever. Can we encourage such connections by sharing the story of the Mosopisyek culture, its relationship with the forest, and so with sport?
Answering this question is the main goal of the project, alongside secondary objectives such as raising awareness of the Mosopisyek’s minority situation, stimulating eco-tourism in the region to strengthen local communities, and further protecting Mount Elgon National Park. Throughout this process, I remain committed to approaching every interview and collaboration with respect for the people and communities involved. The last thing this documentary intends to do is to exoticize individuals or fall into the trap of white saviorism or colonial structures.