Uganda International Fashion Week 2026 unveils program to train 10,000

After a six-year silence, one of Uganda’s most influential fashion platforms is making a highly anticipated comeback.

The Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) is set to return at the Kampala Serena Hotel, reigniting a space that has, for decades, shaped Uganda’s fashion identity and elevated local designers onto regional and global stages.

Founded in 2003, the event has long been more than just a showcase of style. Its return signals a renewed commitment to positioning fashion not just as art but as business, opportunity and a pathway to sustainable livelihoods in Uganda.

This year’s edition comes with a powerful shift in focus. While the glamour of runway shows remains, the heart of UIFW 2026 lies in its newly launched Creative Economy Programme a multi-year initiative designed to equip nearly 10,000 young people, the majority of them women, with practical skills across the fashion value chain.

For emerging designers, this means more than exposure. It is an opportunity to learn how to build brands, structure businesses, access markets and connect with buyers.

“We don’t just exhibit fashion, we build livelihoods,” Santa Anzo says. “Fashion is not only about creativity and self-expression it is a powerful engine for entrepreneurship and job creation.”

From garment construction and design to branding, model development and enterprise management, participants will receive hands-on training, mentorship and access to industry networks that can turn raw talent into thriving businesses.
For many young Ugandan designers, breaking into the fashion industry has often been a struggle defined by limited access to funding, mentorship and markets.

The platform will bring together designers, manufacturers, investors and creative entrepreneurs under one roof, creating opportunities for collaboration and growth. It also positions designers to tap into regional and international markets an essential step for scaling fashion brands beyond Uganda.

Backed by partners including the Mastercard Foundation, the initiative aims to strengthen Uganda’s creative economy while addressing youth unemployment and empowering women through skills and enterprise development.

The event is also helping to tell Ugandan stories through fabric, design and craftsmanship. It also strengthens the country’s manufacturing potential, encouraging local production and value addition by connecting local designers to international buyers and platforms.