By Diana Kintu
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has announced a new date for the Kampala City Festival 2025, rescheduling it to Sunday, October 12, just two days after Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day.
The announcement was made alongside a call from Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, who invited all partners and residents to actively participate in both national and city events. “Kampala has been granted an opportunity to host the 63rd Independence Day celebrations. As such, the Kampala City Festival has been rescheduled to October 12,” she said, encouraging the public to attend the Independence celebrations at Kololo on October 9 before returning to the festival.
The date change was confirmed during a KCCA media briefing, which also highlighted a series of successful pre-festival activities across the city. According to KCCA, these activities have strengthened the spirit of the community and reaffirmed the Authority’s focus on people-centered development.
“On behalf of Kampala Capital City Authority, it is with great joy and deep gratitude for me to say that ‘Kampala is alive,’” the Executive Director said. “Our pre-festival activities have not only set the tone for celebration but also reminded us of who we are as a city.”
The pre-festival events began with outreach visits to children’s homes, including Naguru Reception Centre, Sanyu Babies’ Home, and Nsambya Babies’ Home. Essential items were donated by KCCA staff, schools, and market vendors. The gesture, organisers said, was meant to show that “before the music begins, Kampala must first care for its people.” Citizens were urged to support such homes regularly, and where possible, adopt children in need.
In addition, free medical camps were organised across all five city divisions—Makindye, Central, Kawempe, Rubaga, and Nakawa. More than 7,000 residents received services such as immunisation, HIV testing and counselling, family planning, and screenings for TB and cervical cancer. The overwhelming public response, KCCA noted, confirmed that “healthcare is one of the best gifts a city can give its people.”
The week also emphasised environmental consciousness and healthy living. On September 27, the “Kampala Car-Free Day” transformed Nile Avenue and Speke Road into car-free community spaces filled with cyclists, joggers, and families. The initiative had an immediate environmental benefit, with air quality in Nakasero improving from 20.68 ug/m³ to 9.6 ug/m³ in just one day.
This was followed by a city-wide “No-Litter Day” on October 1, led by the Minister for Kampala and Miss Uganda, Trivia Elle Muhoza. A clean-up march along major streets involved schoolchildren and residents, who sensitised the public on waste segregation and turning waste into income. Similar clean-ups were held across all divisions.
KCCA also unveiled two new public sanitation facilities at Constitutional Square and announced plans to plant trees along Nile Avenue and distribute fruit trees to schools as part of its ongoing “Greening Kampala” initiative.
With the new schedule, Kampala will experience a week of major events. The 63rd Independence Day celebrations will take place at Kololo on October 9, followed by the Kampala City Festival on October 12 at the same venue.
The festival will kick off with a colourful procession from Buganda Road through Kampala Road and Jinja Road, ending at Kololo. The grounds will host multiple zones, including a women’s exhibitor area, a children’s village, a Halal village, a Christian village, and a main stage.
Organisers of the gospel music segment, dubbed the #ZionPark Experience, confirmed the new date and promised lively performances from popular choirs, bands, and gospel artistes. Overall, the festival will celebrate Ugandan culture, innovation, sustainability, and community.
Security for both Independence Day and the Festival will be ensured by the Uganda Police and other security agencies.
In wrapping up the media address, KCCA highlighted key lessons drawn from the pre-festival activities. City residents are increasingly calling for more regular car-free days, expanded pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and sustained access to free health services.
KCCA stressed that the Kampala City Festival is not only a time for music and entertainment but also a platform to promote a vision of inclusive and sustainable urban development.
“As we celebrate, let us remember that development must always remain people-centered, inclusive, and sustainable,” the Authority concluded.