The Kampala City Festival is making a comeback.
Sharifah Buzeki, Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), confirmed Monday that the iconic citywide celebration—last held in 2017—will return in 2025.
“I am excited to announce the return of a city celebration—the Kampala City Festival 2025,” she said.
“It’s going to be bigger, better, and bolder.”
Buzeki made the announcement during a media briefing at City Hall, where she also outlined the Authority’s performance in the 2024/25 financial year and laid out plans for the year ahead. The festival’s official launch will be held on August 6, 2025. The date of the festival itself is expected to be revealed during that event.
First introduced during the tenure of former Executive Director Jennifer Musisi, the Kampala City Festival was one of the largest street events in East Africa, drawing crowds into the capital’s streets for music, culture, and civic pride.
Musisi, who served as KCCA’s founding executive director from 2011 to 2018, is widely credited with spearheading a wave of reforms and public events that aimed to rebrand Kampala’s image and revitalize its infrastructure.
The festival was cancelled in 2018. No official version has taken place since.
Buzeki’s statement, posted to the Authority’s X account (formerly Twitter), was met with excitement online, signaling strong public anticipation for the event’s return.
During her remarks, Buzeki emphasized a broader vision for Kampala’s urban development, pointing to infrastructure upgrades, service delivery, and collaboration with the private sector as key priorities.
“We will not slow down,” she said. “We will overcome hurdles through smarter planning, public-private partnerships, and a continued focus on service delivery.”
The Kampala City Festival—also referred to as the Kampala City Carnival—is expected to feature a mix of cultural showcases, entertainment, and innovation, with regional participation also in focus.
Full details, including the theme and programming, will be made public at the August 6 launch.
