Music and dance bring Uganda’s identity to life at NIRA Expo
The combination of traditional dress, music and dance provided a visual display of cultural heritage, with the pupils using performance to express aspects of who they are and where they come from.
Pupils performing at the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
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The sound of drums, traditional instruments and energetic dance filled Kololo Ceremonial Grounds as schoolchildren brought Uganda's cultural identity to life at the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026. On the second day of the expo, pupils used music, dance and traditional dress to showcase aspects of Uganda's diverse cultural heritage, attracting visitors who gathered around the performance area.
Among the performers were pupils of Kitante Primary School, who took to the stage with a lively traditional dance performance. The boys and girls moved to the rhythm of the music as they performed the rakaraka dance, with their coordinated movements and colourful costumes drawing applause from expo-goers.
The combination of traditional dress, music and dance provided a visual display of cultural heritage, with the pupils using performance to express aspects of who they are and where they come from.
Pupils performing at the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
The performance also offered a break from the busy activities at the expo, with visitors stopping to watch the young dancers and listen to the traditional music.
The performances were part of the second day of the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026, organised by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), with support from Vision Group, Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), NITA-Uganda and Tahaluf.
The expo is providing a platform for schools and other participants to showcase different aspects of identity, with traditional music and dance offering a way to celebrate Uganda's cultural heritage.