Drums, busuuti and belonging: Melbourne turns Ugandan for a night

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UGANDA CONNECT 🇺🇬

The first beats of the Nankasa drums rolled across the room, and every head turned towards the Pearl Afrikulture Rhythms. Within moments, the other drums and instruments joined in, building an exhilarating wall of sound that swept the packed hall into something close to ecstasy.

It was culture in its purest form.

The hall was dressed in Uganda’s black, yellow and red and decorated with woven baskets, gourds and drums, while dancers swayed through the crowd and the drummers drove the energy ever higher.

At the high table, Princess Katrina Ssangalyambogo, representing the Nnaabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda, smiled. Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot, the Iteso cultural leader, clapped along, and soon the whole room was clapping with him. Ministers Balaam Barugahara (local government) and Babirye Milly Babalanda (the presidency) exchanged nods and smiles with Uganda’s High Commissioner to Australia, Dorothy Samali Hyuha.

Across the room, Dr Michael Muleme, president of the Uganda Community in Victoria, who had led an organising team of more than 45 people, caught the eye of Mercy Victoria Kataike, awarded for her tireless work in making the event happen. Neither said a word. They didn’t need to. The look said it all: we did it.

For one evening on October 17, this was not Collingwood Town Hall in Melbourne, Australia. It was Uganda.

There was no colour, no tribe and no political leaning; only Ugandans, their friends and well-wishers coming together to celebrate being Ugandan as the main event of the three-day Uganda–Australasia Business Expo. And they did celebrate, as Uganda celebrated 64 years of independence.

The Agonda cultural dance had opened the night with the strong rhythms of northern Uganda, drawing many onto the floor and offering a taste of what was to come.

For people whose lives in Australia revolve around long shifts and early alarms, the night was a chance to shine.

The room became a vibrant parade of style: the traditional busuuti and kanzu alongside designer suits, the latest dresses and colourful bitenge. There was no single dress code, yet everything blended together to give the evening its vibrancy.

The speeches carried a common thread: hold on to who you are.

“Our traditions and values need to be kept as we integrate into the communities we settle in,” urged Princess Ssangalyambogo.

“We need to teach our children their mother tongues. This is the root that holds them strong and builds the bond,” added Papa Emorimor.

Richard Welch MLC, the Victorian Liberal member for the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region, affectionately known to the community as “Opio”, echoed the message as a long-time friend of Ugandans. He is also the state shadow minister for industry and innovation.

“The annual independence event is a recognition that culture is important, and we need to continue to help it develop. Seeing the young ones take part in the dances and other events shows great promise,” he said.

High Commissioner Hyuha welcomed the way the Uganda–Australasia association is taking shape, bringing Ugandans together to celebrate, network and enjoy themselves.

Hyuha said cooperation between Uganda and Australia is strong in mining, education and tourism, noting that about 13,000 Australians visited Uganda last year, and pointed to growing trade and university partnerships.

Minister Babalanda called for increased investment and better pooling of resources for development.

In a speech read on his behalf by minister Barugahara, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said the government’s focus is on improving infrastructure and easing trade, with particular attention to transport, including rail and water.

But it is never a Ugandan event without food, and Afropearls Victoria did not disappoint, serving the best of Ugandan traditional cuisine (only the rolex was missing).

The meal gave guests the energy they needed when Seben’s band took the stage; the drinks flowed. And whoever said that doctors, engineers and other professionals never dance, forgot to include the Ugandans in the sample space.

As the night wore on, some headed home while others changed outfits and made for Pandora Club, where Tony Ndiwalana had organised an after-party to follow an explosive welcome party earlier in the week.

Whatever their plans, everyone left carrying the same feeling: we are Ugandans, and on this night, nothing else mattered.