Students celebrate World Storytelling Day with culture, drama, and dance

Children and students from various schools across Kampala and Wakiso converged at the National Theatre on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to mark World Storytelling Day, a global celebration dedicated to the art of narrative in all its forms.

Participating schools included Nakasero Primary School, Mumtaz High School, Kawaala High School, and City High School, among others.

The celebrations featured music, dance, and drama skits that highlighted Uganda's diverse tribes and cultures. Through their performances, the young participants reminded their peers of the importance of respecting cultural heritage. Each school presented skits in different languages, including Luganda, Lunyoro, and Lutoro.

At the end of the day, the students were recognized for their participation and awarded certificates of appreciation.

Delivering the keynote address, the guest of honor, Dr. Safiina Mutumba, Assistant Commissioner for Pre-Primary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, encouraged students to take storytelling seriously.

"Storytelling made me, and it can make your career shine," Dr. Mutumba said. "It is the reason I studied and attained all these qualifications, including my PhD."

She urged the students to read newspapers and blogs, and to watch videos of successful people, noting that such sources of information offer valuable lessons and inspiration.

"This is a generation where content has become cheap to access because of the availability of the internet and its apps," she cautioned. "But I warn you against the misuse of these platforms, as they also contain information that is irrelevant."

Dr. Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare, Associate Professor of Performing Arts at Makerere University, urged students to use music, dance, and drama as tools for storytelling to a global audience.

"Most of the great artists who have succeeded in their careers use autobiography as a way of telling their stories," she said. "They write their stories using music lyrics and compose songs, which they later sell to their audiences for a living."

Francis Peter Ojedde, Executive Director of the Uganda National Cultural Centre, described the day's theme, Lights in the Dark, as deeply meaningful.

"It reminds us that even in difficult times, a story can guide, heal, and bring people together," Ojedde said.

World Storytelling Day is observed annually on March 20 to celebrate the art of storytelling, whether told through words, pictures, signs, or expressions. The day acknowledges storytelling as an art form and encourages cultural diversity and inclusion across different races and traditions.