KCCA targets sh1b from 2026 Kampala City Festival
Buzeki said the 2026 festival will feature a range of activities, including floats, marching bands, and processions along Kampala Road, as well as medical camps and outreach programmes across all five divisions of the city.
KCCA deputy executive director, Benon Kigenyi and executive director, Sharifah Buzeki, arriving for the appreciation dinner for the Kampala City Carnival sponsors 2025 at City Hall Gardens. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)
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The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is aiming to raise sh1b from the 2026 Kampala City Festival, building on the success of the 2025 edition, which generated sh826,300,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.
The festival, scheduled for October 4, 2026, will take place across various streets in the city to allow wider public participation. KCCA executive director, Sharifah Buzeki, said the event goes beyond celebration and is also about unity, pride, and reaffirming the shared goal of a clean and modern Kampala.
Speaking at City Hall in Kampala on Wednesday (April 1), Buzeki said the 2026 festival will feature a range of activities, including floats, marching bands, and processions along Kampala Road, as well as medical camps and outreach programmes across all five divisions of the city.
KCCA recognises sponsors behind the 2025 Kampala City Festival with a luxury party. Dancers entertain sponsors on Friday, March 27, 2026, at City Hall in Kampala. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)
Kcca Deputy Executive Director, Benon Kigenyi And The Executive Director, Sharifah Buzeki Share Light Moment After Arriving At The Kampala City Carnival Sponsors Appreciation Dinner On Friday March 27
“The festival is a significant contributor to KCCA's revenue and a platform for showcasing Kampala's vibrancy through music, art, dance, and food. It also creates opportunities for local entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive,” Buzeki noted.
She revealed that preparations are already underway, with KCCA inviting sponsors to support the event.
KCCA’s revenue collection has remained strong, with the authority collecting sh127.6b in the 2024/25 financial year, surpassing its target of sh120.4b. The target for the 2025/26 financial year is sh132.4b.
Buzeki said KCCA will continue enforcing trader order while also addressing road infrastructure.
“We are also upgrading roads, paving and constructing drainage systems to make Kampala accessible and resilient. This will guide orderly growth in Kampala while cleaning and greening Kampala to make Kampala beautiful, attractive and environmentally friendly.”
“This year's event will include a Halal village, a new space dedicated to showcasing Halal businesses, culture, food, and technological innovations. The festival aims to promote local businesses, creativity, and innovation, while also addressing sustainability and waste management,” Buzeki emphasised.
The festival remains a key platform for promoting Kampala’s cultural vibrancy and supporting local enterprises.
Buzeki said KCCA staff collected sh13.2m, which was donated to orphanages and vulnerable children.
“It’s not a celebration of the festival's success; it's a recognition of the valuable role which you played in making it possible. I want to inform you that we broke even and we finished without a debt,” she said.
“During the pre-festive period, KCCA had a car-free day, the urban mobility conference on how stakeholders move through the city, the cleaning drives that refreshed the neighbourhoods, the health camps that brought us closure to the communities we serve and took care closer to our communities.
KCCA had a charity donation that touched the lives of the most vulnerable, the orphanages and the unprivileged, all that was because the partners lent a hand.”
According to Buzeki, the 2025 festival was historic, as it was the first time KCCA received support from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities under the tourism development programme.
The chairperson of the 2026 festival, who is also KCCA director of gender and social services, Sheila Birungi Ganda, said the event will take place along several streets, including Buganda Road, Kampala Road, Jinja Road, Kyaggwe Road, and Shimoni Road, among others.
Birungi said the festival will position Kampala on the global stage under the theme, “Celebrating Kampala Urban resilience, social wellbeing and inclusive growth.”
She added that publicity will begin next month, with activities climaxing on October 3 and 4, 2026. The main venue will be the Railway Grounds.
“The main route will start at Buganda Road down to Kyaggwe, Kampala-Jinja, Yusuf Lule Shimoni, Nile Avenue and the Railway grounds will have the main Stage. Other stages will be at Constitutional Square for the children, City Hall for Muslims, Sheraton for Christians,” she said.
Birungi also outlined sponsorship packages, including crown sponsorship at sh200m, platinum at sh150m, diamond at sh75m, gold at sh50m, emerald at sh25m, silver at sh15m, bronze at sh5m, copper at sh500,000, and sh100,000 for local contributors.
Sponsors of the 2025 festival included Centenary Bank, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, China Railway 18th Bureau Group, Psalms Food Industries Ltd, ABBAS, HAMZ, Uganda Telecom, Watoto, Sheraton Hotel, Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, and Vision Group.