American R&B and smooth jazz saxophonist, Kirk Whalum jets into the country on Thursday ahead of the dfcu Jazz in the Pearl festival.
The multiple Grammy awards nominee and one – time winner, 66, who has worked with music icons like Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Jonathan Butler and Chante Moore, will fly in with his team.
He is buoyant ahead of his performance at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Saturday, May 10. “
It is my third time performing in Uganda, but my excitement is fever pitch. I can’t wait to serenade my fans. Each performance feels brand new to me. Hope to see my fans in large numbers,” he said ahead of the concert.
Kirk Whalum will perform alongside, Ugandan Jazz maestros, Isaiah Katumwa and Tshaka Mayanja and his Black Roots Academy of Soul.
Event sponsors dfcu reveal that the dfcu Jazz in the Pearl Festival marks a powerful cultural collaboration, aimed at not only entertaining audiences but also promoting Uganda’s jazz music industry.
This sponsorship builds on dfcu Bank’s commitment to empowering Ugandans and fostering connections through shared exp
eriences. Over its 60-year history, dfcu Bank has played an instrumental role in bringing people together, supporting entrepreneurial ambitions, and celebrating Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage.
“Music has an extraordinary ability to transcend boundaries and connect people, and dfcu Bank is proud to bring you the dfcu Jazz in the Pearl Festival because of our deep belief in the power of connection. For six decades, we have been driven by a vision of building a community of progress, and this concert allows us to celebrate that journey with the Ugandan people,” said Charles Mudiwa, CEO dfcu Bank.
Tickets for dfcu Jazz in the Pearl are available at selected dfcu branches, online at www.quicket.co.ug. General admission is UGX 250,000 early bird, while a table of 8 is at UGX 6,000,000.
dfcu was established in 1964 as a development finance institution. Over the years dfcu has been associated with many success stories in Uganda’s economy in various sectors including agribusiness, communication, education, health, manufacturing, tourism, real estate, mining, construction, transport, trade and commerce, among others.
Key Milestones
1964: dfcu Limited established by the Government of Uganda and the CDC.
1999: Bought Uganda Leasing Company, renamed it dfcu Leasing.
2000: Bought Global Trust Bank, renamed it dfcu Bank, and started commercial banking.
2004: dfcu Limited was listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange.
2008: Merged its two businesses (Development Finance and dfcu Bank) to create a “one-stop shop “under dfcu Bank.
2007: Launched dfcu Women In Business.
2013: Realignment of shareholders bringing on board a strategic partner – Rabobank, with significant experience in agribusiness.
2014: Consolidated business operations into our Head Office – dfcu Towers.
2014: dfcu Bank acquired some assets and took over some liabilities of Global Trust Bank (In Liquidation).
2015: Launched the Women In Business Advisory Centre.
2016: Aligned shareholding with Rabobank, Norfund and FMO combining to form Arise which is committed to strengthening and developing effective, inclusive financial systems in Africa with a long-term perspective.