Festivals in Uganda
Every festival we cover in Uganda — where and when to go.
Pearl International Film Festival
The Pearl International Film Festival (PIFF), is an annual film festival held in Kampala, Uganda. It has been described as one of the biggest film events in Uganda. PIFF is a non-governmental organization founded by Moses Magezi and established in 2011 to develop and promote film and other cultural industries as catalyst for the regional social and economic growth. The first edition of PIFF happened at the National Theatre and still will holds other edition every May.
3rd Pearl International Film Festival
The 3rd Pearl International Film Festival took place in Kampala, Uganda from 13 to 16 May 2013. King's Virgin won Best Picture. Film director Prince Joe Nakibinge was awarded the best director prize. Film director Matt Bish was the festival chief jury. He was previously the winner of best film at the 2nd edition in 2012. The festival also had special screenings of two African films, Nairobi Half Life and Nina's Dowry that initially vied for the Best Foreign Film award that was later removed from the categories.
Amakula International Film Festival
The Amakula Kampala International Film Festival is an annual film festival that took place in Uganda from 2004 to 2012. It is Uganda's oldest film festival founded by Dutch art historian Alice Smits and American filmmaker Lee Ellickson.
Milege Festival
The Milege World Music Festival or just Milege Festival is an annual music festival, happening every November, organized by Milege Afrojazz Band. The festival is a celebration of world music, games, cultural dances, stories, poems, and so on. Art pieces from the Repainting Uganda project are also displayed and sold during the festival. The festival invites many different world music stars from across Africa and sometimes from Asia, Europe, and America. The Milege World Music Festival of 2014 saw Japanese world star and world's first female nyatiti player Anyango perform.
Pearl Rhythm Festival
Pearl Rhythm Festival is a world music festival organized by the Pearl Rhythm Foundation to celebrate Ugandan music and hosted annually at the National Theatre. The festival is the climax of all the activities in the Pearl Rhythm Foundation... Preparations for the festival always start at the start of the year with auditions, training, recording and activation performances and then the festival towards the end of the year.
Imbalu
Imbalu is a public circumcision ceremony practiced by the Bamasaba people of Uganda. It takes place at the Mutoto cultural site (also called Mutoto cultural ground) near Mbale in eastern Uganda. It is mostly active in the 8th month of every even year. According to Bamasaaba cultural tradition, the site is associated with the circumcision of the first Mugisu. This community affair is characterized by dance and food. The ceremony has been heavily promoted as a tourist attraction, and tens of thousands of people attend. Imbalu marks the initiation of boys into manhood and every year, hundreds of.
Nyege Nyege
Nyege Nyege is an annual music festival held in Jinja, Uganda, celebrating African underground music, particularly electronic genres and the cultural diversity within. Founded in 2014 in Uganda, Nyege Nyege Festival was set up as an incubator to develop emerging talents from the East African region. It promotes outsider music, primarily electronic, by African artists. It was founded in 2013 by immigrants Arlen Dilsizian and Derek Debru. In addition to organizing ongoing parties and an artist residency, the collective runs two record labels and a multi-day annual festival.
Blankets and Wine
Blankets and Wine is a pan-African Festival that combines music, fashion, food and family-friendly experiences. The festival was founded by Kenyan musician and cultural entrepreneur Muthoni Drummer Queen.
Ekisaakaate
Ekisaakaate, also called Ekisaakaate kya Nnabagereka or Ekisaakaate kya mama Nnabagereka, is a cultural development program in the Buganda Kingdom, Uganda, for children and youth. It was started by Sylvia Naginda Luswata, her Royal Highness, the Nnaabagereka of Buganda. The program aims to nurture children/youth in respect for traditional Buganda culture, heritage, and traditional values, while providing practical skills in craftsmanship, etiquette, and other life skills.