Toto Christmas Festival 2018 launched with lots of prizes to win

Jovita Ajuna singing with children during last year's Toto Christmas Festival. Photos by Andrew Masinde 

The 2018 Toto Christmas Festival has been launched with lots of cash prizes and school fees to be won by the children.

The festival, now in its third edition was launched on Thursday at the New Vision Head offices in Kampala under the theme; "We are bigger and Bolder."

Sponsored by Pepsi Cola, Sun Top, Post Bank, and the New Vision, the festival will be held on December 9 at Mandela National Stadium-Namboole in Wakiso district.

Entrance to the event will be sh20, 000 per child while parents will not be charged.

Left to right: Jovita Ajuna, Joweria Nabuuma, Jackie Kwesiga, Acklen Ainembabazi and Hajjara Batuuka during the launch of the 2018 Toto Christmas Festival

 
A number of artists like Daxx Kartel, Kabako, Gravity Omutujju, Tip swizy, and David Lutalo have been lined up for the D-day.

Unlike the previous festivals, this time children will have a chance to win school fees, cash prizes and many goodies courtesy of Post Bank and Sun Top.

Jackie Kwesiga, a senior manager marketing and communications at Post Bank, notes that children will compete in essay writing or song composition on how to save and use the savings. The best essay or composition will be crowned the winner.

Children pose for a photo as they enjoyed the swimming pool during the 2017 Toto Christmas Festival at Namboole stadium

 
"This competition is aimed at instilling the saving culture among children. We pledge to continue walking the journey to teach parents and children about money matters thus we shall have a savings goal competition where children will be able to win next terms school fees," Kwesiga said.

Post Bank will also have the money machine where lucky children will have a chance to enter the machine and win money.

Acklen Ainembabazi, the client service executive at Sun Top, said they will have a Sun Top village where children will participate in various games like spinning the wheel and win lots of prizes.

"We are happy to be associated with Toto festival and the children. We shall have our products sold on that day and children will have a chance to win prizes," Ainembabazi said.

According Hajara Batuuka, the Vision Group Marketing Manager in charge of Print and Printing, this year's edition will also have School dance competition where a school will win shs2m.

"We shall have a Toto School Dance Competition, where schools will send five representatives and the winners will walk away with sh2m," Batuuka said.

 
To participate, the school will be visited by the Toto van and register for the event.

She also explained that this year's festival charges were increased from shs10,000 to shs20,000 in order to provide better services in terms of  games, facilities, swimming pool, zoo and  other activities for children.

"The numbers for the Toto festival has overwhelmingly increased in the previous events. We have hired the entire Namboole Stadium complex to accommodate all the children and more services," Batuuka said.

Jovita Ajuna, the Media in Education Advocacy Manager and also Toto Editor commended the sponsors for the continued support towards the festival and urged parents to bring their children.

"It will be a fun filled day for the children with lots of activities and entertainment. Parents bring your children to the festival to learn as they have fun," Ajuna said.

Children dancing during 2017 Toto Festival

 
Other new adventures include a water park, a food point at all sections, quad bikes, over 50 bouncing.

Joweria Nabuuma, the Vision Group Events Manager said, they will establish emergency services at the festival which include ambulances, health officers and stand-by- hospitals for safety of children.

She added that private security, police and other security organs will be deployed alongside children caretakers to ensure safety of children.

And for the missing children, Vision Group will set up special desks at each playing section to cater for children.