Ugandan-British Runner Completes 8,262-Mile Journey from Cape Town to London

Deo Kato's cross-continent run aimed to confront racism and reshape perceptions of migration.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 10:31pm

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Deo Kato, a runner born in Uganda and raised in the UK, completed an extraordinary 8,262-mile journey from Cape Town, South Africa to London, UK over the course of a year and a half. Kato undertook this grueling physical feat as an act of activism, using his running to confront racism and challenge how migration is understood globally.

Why it matters

Kato's journey symbolically retraced humanity's earliest migration routes from Africa, shedding light on the complex and often restrictive realities that many migrants and displaced people face today when trying to move within their own regions or across borders. His run served as a powerful protest against racial injustice and an effort to reclaim the narrative around migration.

The details

Along the way, Kato faced numerous barriers and restrictions, including being detained at times despite having proper documentation. He witnessed firsthand how limited regular migration pathways and movement restrictions leave many people effectively trapped, unable to flee conflict, climate impacts, or economic pressures. As he traveled north towards Europe, Kato experienced increased scrutiny, with locals sometimes calling the police simply because they viewed him as an 'irregular migrant' passing through their area.

  • Kato began his 381-day, 10K-per-day run in 2020, marking each day of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott.
  • Kato set out on his 8,262-mile journey from Cape Town to London in 2024.

The players

Deo Kato

A runner born in Uganda and raised in the United Kingdom who undertook an 8,262-mile journey from Cape Town to London as an act of activism against racism and to reshape perceptions of migration.

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What they’re saying

“I thought, 'I have to do something about this. Whether it's small or big, I want to use my running to create change and speak out against racial injustice.'”

— Deo Kato

“Some people end up detained simply for trying to flee conflict or because they are seen as outsiders. Even when they have the correct paperwork, they can still be held.”

— Deo Kato

“The further I travelled along the migration route, the more I was viewed as an irregular migrant. People would call the police simply because they saw someone they thought didn't belong passing through their area.”

— Deo Kato

“Without that community support, I would not have succeeded on this journey. It's what truly gave it meaning.”

— Deo Kato

“People move for so many reasons, and each journey tells a human story.”

— Deo Kato

What’s next

Kato plans to continue using his platform as a form of activism, speaking out about migration, belonging, and shared humanity.

The takeaway

Kato's remarkable journey across Africa and Europe serves as a powerful act of protest against racism and a reclamation of the narrative around migration, highlighting the resilience and humanity of those who undertake such arduous journeys in search of safety, opportunity, and a better life.