Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The eighth edition of the Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege festival, scheduled from November 9th to 12th, will be officially inaugurated by Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Community Affairs. This event, taking place in Jinja, is a collaboration with the city of Jinja to leverage the benefits for the city, its residents, and the Busoga region.

Hon. Kadaga has received recognition from the Kyabazinga of Busoga, HRH William Wilberforce Gabula IV, for her contributions to the development and promotion of Busoga Kingdom affairs, both nationally and globally. She has emphasized that Nyege Nyege is a festival that generates direct and indirect income for traders in the Busoga subregion and encourages the people of Busoga to take pride in their heritage.

Since its inception in 2015, the festival has focused on documenting and promoting Uganda’s traditional musical heritage. It has grown to become the country’s largest example of cultural and festival tourism, drawing thousands of local, regional, and international visitors to Jinja and the broader Busoga region each year. In 2019, approximately 13,000 attendees joined, and in 2022, about 15,000 people participated.

This year’s edition will span approximately 50 acres, encompassing the Source of the Nile, Jinja Showgrounds, Jinja Golf Course, and Source Gardens. It will feature a dedicated Kingdom Stage with traditional performances by over 25 artists from Busoga, including Crazy MC, Skool Feez, Cool Demus, Swabra Kiss, Street 5, and more.

Uganda Waragi, a product of Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), sponsors the festival. It is renowned as the “Spirit of Uganda” and celebrates everything that is distinctively and authentically Ugandan.