Kampala is ready to erupt with colour, music, and unstoppable energy—the Kampala City Festival is officially back! After eight years of silence, the 8th edition is set to shake up the city on October 5, 2025, just two days before Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day.
The comeback was unveiled in a glamorous red-carpet launch at City Hall on Tuesday, August 5, attended by government officials, cultural icons, top artists, and major sponsors. KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki declared the festival open, calling it “a gift to the people of Kampala.”
“This time, we are bringing you a festival like no other,” she said. “The people have missed the vibe, the rhythm, and the soul of this great city. We are giving it all back to them!”
Under the theme “Celebrating Kampala: Its Culture, Innovation, and Sustainability,” the 2025 edition promises a citywide explosion of entertainment—street parades, cultural dances, music concerts, food and fashion fairs, innovation expos, health camps, and fun-packed children’s play zones.
Environmental drives and clean-up campaigns will also give the city a fresh glow.
State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, hailed the festival’s return as a symbol of pride and identity. “This is who we are and who we want to be. Let’s all support the festival—it’s time to put a smile on Kampala’s face!” he said.
Guests at the launch were treated to a magical performance by Afro-soul sensation Kenneth Mugabi, whose hit song Nambi set the tone for the festival’s vibrant comeback. Even members of the organising committee joined in the fun, proving that city planners can party too.
Last staged in 2017, the Kampala City Festival is expected to pull thousands of revelers into the city streets, turning Kampala into a non-stop celebration of culture, innovation, and pure joy.