By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa, Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: After a seven-year hiatus, the highly anticipated Kampala City Festival is set for a grand return, promising to redefine urban celebration through a lens of service delivery and sustainability. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Ms. Sharifah Buzeki, today confirmed the festival’s launch on October 12th at Kololo Independence Grounds, following a rigorous two-week schedule of community-focused preparatory activities that set a new benchmark for municipal engagement.
The prelude to the festival, operating under the theme “Innovation, Culture, and Sustainability,” saw KCCA mobilize thousands across the five divisions through health outreach, environmental drives, and social solidarity efforts. The most impactful activities included medical camps that delivered free integrated health services—from immunization to cancer screening—to over 7,000 residents. Furthermore, the inaugural Car-Free Day transformed major city arteries into spaces for non-motorized transport, resulting in a recorded air quality improvement to 9.6ug/m3 in Nakasero, a clear signal of the city’s potential for sustainable mobility.
Addressing the media following the massive preparatory success, Ms. Buzeki articulated the core philosophy guiding the festival’s resurgence. “On behalf of Kampala Capital City Authority, it is with great joy and deep gratitude for me to say that ‘Kampala is alive,’” she stated. The Executive Director emphasized that the pre-festival activities were not merely logistical preparations but a crucial reminder of the city’s values. She added that the guiding principle for the entire exercise was clear: “Before the music begins, Kampala must first care for its people.
Our pre-festival activities have reminded us of who we are as a city and what we can achieve when we put people at the center of development.” She also called upon citizens to utilize the city’s free health facilities and to show affection and support for children in reception centers and homes, stressing that development and celebration must always remain people-centered, inclusive, and sustainable.
Beyond the immediate community impact, the lead-up saw strategic planning for the future, notably the launch of the KCCA Strategic Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30. This blueprint, requiring UGX 11.9 trillion, aims to revitalize Kampala into “a vibrant, attractive, liveable, and sustainable City.” Complementing this vision, the Minister for Kampala flagged off the “No-Litter Day” initiative, sensitizing thousands on waste segregation and responsible management.
KCCA confirmed a slight shift in the main festival date, moving from October 5th to October 12th, 2025, to allow for adequate preparation time following the national Independence Day celebrations, which Kampala is hosting on October 9th.
Concluding her statement, Ms. Buzeki extended profound appreciation to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Cabinet for approving the festival’s return, cementing its status as a significant national event. “I now take this opportunity to invite all residents, partners, visitors, and friends of Kampala, let us meet on October 12th at Kololo Independence Grounds. Together, we will showcase the very best of our city,” she affirmed.
The event promises vibrant exhibitions in dedicated zones, including the Christian Village, Halal Village, and the Innovation-focused Main Stage, all secured by robust collaborative efforts with the Uganda Police and security organs.
