Usher in new year in style

Dec 30, 2004

So you’ve finally stuffed yourself with Christmas turkey and worrying about how to usher in the New Year?

By Alex Balimwikungu

So you’ve finally stuffed yourself with Christmas turkey and worrying about how to usher in the New Year? No need to fret. As the midnight clock chimes tonight, urban neighbourhoods, rural enclaves, and numerous communes countrywide will burst to life in celebration of the dawn of yet another year, and the onset of the New Year 2005.

Unless New Year’s eve finds you confined in bed or incarcerated in some prison, here are some events to help plan your celebration in style, be it secular or pious.

For the ‘secular,’ Nile Breweries (Club Pilsner brand), have organised a two-year’s clubbing concert dubbed Get into Shape, at the Lugogo Cricket grounds. Robert Kigula, the brand manager, says the Lugogo show, which will have one of the biggest fireworks, has attracted celebrated local Ugandan talent.
“We have lined the crème de la crème of the country’s music industry. Right from Jose Chameleon, Ragga Dee, Bebe Cool, Omumbejja Sheila Nvannungi and Eagles production band. they are all there. For just sh20,000 for VIP entrance, revellers will not only have exclusive viewing, but will get two free beers. For the rest, it is a paltry sh5,000 and they party till dawn,” Kigula says.

Also highly-billed is the Uganda Breweries, (Bell lager) and Sheraton Hotel sponsored extravaganza, the East African X-plosion that has collated artists from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya with the traditional fireworks off Sheraton’s top floor. Organised by Hem Dee’s No End entertainment, the show features East Africa’s hot prospects like Dudu Baya, AY and Ziggy Dee from Tanzania and other musicians from Kenya and Uganda. Gates open at 7:00pm with entrance at sh8,000.

Speke Resort and Country lodge, Munyonyo has ensured patrons who prefer to usher the New Year in quiet environments get a real treat by the lakeside. Malik Akilesh, the resort’s manager says, “We have lined up one of the biggest displays of fireworks and created a carnival atmosphere with lots of music. From R&B, Techno Salsa, Arabic and Old School. DJ RS Elvis, DJ Dipu and Junior will be there to provide it all for sh5,000.”

For the pious, overnight prayers will take centre stage, with ‘fireworks’ and powerful prayer in many churches around the country.
Mandela National stadium, Namboole takes centre stage at the Passover festival organised by pastors Joseph and Freda Sserwadda of Victory Christian Center, Ndeeba.

The Passover, like those before, will have an all pastors’ convention and will be graced by President Museveni and his wife.

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