Festivals & Events

THE ROLEX FESTIVAL

Rolex Festival is a Culinary exhibition aimed at promoting Rolex as the National meal Identifier for Uganda and an opportunity for Tourists to experience the cuisine of Uganda. The Rolex is Ugandan dish that has various forms although the most common version is made up to an omelet that is combined with sliced vegetables and flattened wheat bread known as “Chapati”. The Rolex festival is the premier culinary tourism event in Uganda that brings together food enthusiasts for a fun-filled experience with performances from some of Uganda’s top Musical artists being part of the menu. Over time, the Rolex has evolved to accommodate ethnic staple meals and international cuisines. Uganda is home to over 52 tribes and 6 indigenous groups and The Rolex carries the same name across all these ethnic groups with no ethical attachments for any group to feel left out. Different global destinations are known for their meals. In Uganda, we don’t wear a Rolex, we eat it.

KAMPALA CITY FESTIVAL

Kampala City Festival is a signature brand that draws multitudes to Kampala every first Sunday of October to celebrate culture, unity and provides immense networking opportunities for business. Over 1 million revellers attend this mega-event cutting across different age groups and races. It is one of the biggest street parties in Uganda and is popular among the urban youth. The festival presents the best opportunity to witness the unique fusion of cultures from all over Uganda while enjoying musical performances from top East African Artists in a carnival style mega-party.

BLANKETS & WINE MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Blankets & Wine Festival is a social event that is held in 3 East African countries although the Ugandan edition, which is held in the Capital Kampala typically attracts close to 4000 people, making it one of the most well attended events on the Ugandan social calendar. The crowd is mainly made up of young people from the urban centers of Kampala, international expatriates and tourists who come to socialize at this picnic-style live music concert that fuses fashion, art and photography into one melodious masterpiece. The event typically has 4 to 5 musical acts from the urban Afro-music genre with revelers observing as they sit on picnic blankets, sip on a drink of their choice while chilling-out with family and friends. The organizers of this event aim to create a laid-back picnic style Afro-centric live music concert that is family friendly while giving a platform to emerging bands to showcase their talent To the world at the Blankets & Wine Music Festival that is held 4 times a year.

DIWALI FESTIVAL

Diwali is a religious Hindu festival that symbolizes spiritual victory of light over dark, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is celebrated annually to mark the Hindu new year and lasts for 5 days in which the Ugandan Indian community get together to celebrate traditional dishes, games, music, plays and all aspects of Indian culture. Uganda is home to a large Indian community which over time has led to a special blend of Indian and African culture to some extent, one such example is the urban Ugandan Cuisine which has striking similarities with the cuisine on the Indian sub-continent with foods like Chapatti, Sambusa, Biriani and Pilau being served in Ugandan restaurants country-wide, as you move around the Ugandan capital city of Kampala, you cannot fail to notice that several hindu temples are dotted around the city. Although the Ugandan Indian Community has made importatnt contributions to the economic prosperity of modern Uganda, It is right to note that the Ugandan Indian community is part of Ugandan History.

THE ELGON CUP

The Elgon Cup is a highly anticipated rugby competition that takes place between the Rugby Union teams of Uganda and Kenya, the competition derives its name from Mountain Elgon which is an extinct volcano that sits on both Kenyan and Ugandan territory and is home to the world’s largest caldera. Although the Kenyans have lifted the Elgon Cup trophy more times than the Ugandans have, it is always a tough game and never a walk-over for the Kenyans as the rivalry manifests on the rugby pitch much to the delight of the spectators who are treated to some outstanding rugby and tons of barbecue and beer.

KAMPALA-KIGALI FASHION WEEK

The Kampala-Kigali joint Fashion week presents the best opportunity for East African designers to showcase their outfits worn by the most beautiful local models. Even though many of the designers use African fabric and are inspired by traditional African attire, the influence of regional and international fashion trends leads to a well blended art fusion that results in amazingly beautiful garments. The event was launched at the Pearl of Africa Hotel and was the first time that Uganda & Rwanda collaborated to produce a combined fashion event with an aim to reflect the values that these two neighbors have in common under the theme; Development, Integration, Diversity & Inclusion.

EMPANGO CELEBRATIONS IN TORO KINGDOM

Anniversary Celebrations marking the coronation of His Highness King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi Mpuga IV are held at the King’s palace grounds on Karuziika hill in Fort Portal, western Uganda, they involve traditional activities like sounding the Royal Drums, milking the King’s favourite cow and activities that involve all traditional ceremonies that are synonymous with the vibrant Toro culture. The Kingdom of Toro attained autonomy from the Empire of Kitara when Prince Kaboyo Olimi who was the Emperor’s eldest son spearheaded its independence. The Empango celebrations are Must for tourists and anyone that is interested in learning about The African traditional culture.

MASAZA CUP IN BUGANDA KINGDOM

The Masaza Cup is a highly contested annual soccer tournament in which the 18 counties that make up Buganda Kingdom tussle it out on the soccer field . Each county is represented by a selected team with the aim of emerging as the victors of the Masaza Cup. Masaza is a Luganda word that means Counties and is usually uttered as “Masaza ga Buganda” to mean ” The Counties of Buganda”.

The tournament is the brain-child of His Highness the King of Buganda, Ssabasaja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and since its inception in the year 2004, it has groomed numerous talented youngsters from among the Buganda Kingdom youth of who now play for some of the biggest soccer clubs in Uganda and abroad. This tournament is a Must-watch for all soccer fans and presents a perfect opportunity for Tourists to interact with the warm and friendly people of Buganda Kingdom as they enjoy this beautiful sport.

THE PEARL OF AFRICA RALLY

The Pearl of Africa Rally is the third stage in the Africa Rally Championship which attracts re-known competitive Rally drivers from all over the world who come to Uganda to participate in this tough, tire-bruising and engine-bursting motor sport. The event takes place in early May and attracts spectators from all corners of Uganda who cheer on their favourite drivers as the Racing machines rise the Ugandan dust while navigating the tight twists and turns of the different race segments of the Pearl of Africa Rally.

The Inaugural edition of this motorsport event was held in the year 1997 and was won by a Ugandan Rally driver by the names of Karim Hirji in a Toyota Celica ST 185 while the 2023 edition was won by a Ugandan driver by the names of Yasin Nasser in Ford Fiesta Rally 2.

MOTOCROSS UGANDA

Motocross events in Uganda are very popular and attract participants from the world over much to the delight of local spectators who fill up the venues to watch their favorite riders tear the muddy track apart with surgical precision stunts in the different sections and segments, the riders are grouped into different categories mainly basing on bike size with a kids’ and women category being included in some races. Popular Tournaments include the Africa Motocross championship which has one of its stages at the Victoria Raceway Park located in Garuga, central Uganda and the Armed Forces Motocross competition.

Bike lovers are able to access the different race tracks within Uganda for private Dirt-Biking sessions or even participate in qualification rounds that could see them gain entry into competitive motocross in the beautiful land of Uganda.

ROYAL ASCOT GOAT RACE

The Goat races are an annual charity event that is held at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Ugandan capital Kampala, the event has been every year since 1993 and is based on the Royal Ascot races with a Ugandan twist. Similar to the Royal Ascot Horse races, participants emphasize fashion with prizes awarded to the best dressed couple, best dressed man, best dressed woman and best dressed child. The event’s highlight is the actual goat races where participating Goats are lined up and flagged off as they dash to the finish line. The owner of the winning goat is awarded a prize and the Goat is then auctioned.

The event has several champagne bars, beer gardens, hospitality & food huts as well as kids’ activities like face painting and bouncing castles. The Royal Ascot Goat race provides a brilliant networking environment as well as a perfect day out for the family.

IMBALU CULTURAL CEREMONY

The Imbalu festival is public circumcision cultural ceremony that marks the initiation of teenage boys into adulthood and is practiced among the Bagisu community of eastern Uganda and western Kenya. It is a bi-annual event that is held around the month of August and is attended by revelers numbering in the thousands who converge at the mutoto cultural grounds in the eastern Ugandan city of Mbale to watch the youngsters as they begin their journey into adulthood. Tourists who have attended this event testify that it is unlike anything that they have ever seen.