On Saturday 5th September, Kampala Serena Hotel played host to one of the biggest runway shows of the year as the long-awaited Grand Finale Gala of the Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) made its grand comeback.
Organised under Santa Anzo’s Arapapa Fashion House in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the International Trade Centre, and Bayimba Foundation, the week-long affair ran under the theme “Fashion for Impact”. It set out to prove that fashion in Uganda is no longer just about glamour but an economic driver aimed at empowering youth, women, refugees, and persons with disabilities.
Produced under the guidance of South African fashion producer Andiswa Manxiwa, the runway production moved with discipline, presenting a strong mix of local talent and continental showcases.
The night’s runway spotlight was on a distinct mix of home-grown and international designers. Satisfashion UG documented the event in real time and this is how the runway showcases unfolded.
Axarya
When it comes to sporty and easy-to-wear ready-to-wear, @axaryatrendz is the answer, and their collection presented yesterday during @fashionweekuganda was exactly that.
Rahul Singh
A mix of joyful prints and delicious pops of colour is what @pret_rahulsingh gave.
Kai’s Divo Collection
If there’s anybody that dreams wild, it is @kais_divo_collection. He took us to a futuristic party where the impossible is possible.
Haus of Stone x Green Amba
Haus of Stone (@hausofstone) is a Zimbabwean slow-fashion house founded by Danayi Madondo. It is built on the philosophy of “Cloth as a Portal” — the belief that textiles are sacred vessels for healing, memory, and reimagined futures.
Inspired by the fantastical and the ancestral, Haus of Stone creates understated, experiential apparel for the global conscious wanderer. The brand utilizes fashion as an immersive vehicle to narrate contemporary Zimbabwean stories, intricately infused with heritage and cultural nuances.
For this collection, they collaborated with Ugandan accessories brand @greenamba
Ellen Design
Founded by Hellen Tolbert (@ellen_design_), a self-taught designer, Ellen Designs blends African culture with contemporary, timeless fashion. The brand is renowned for its exquisite tailoring, personalized service, and high-quality custom pieces. Their collection presented last evening during Uganda International Fashion Week was a true testimony to that.
Indoni Fashion House
Indoni Fashion House is a Durban-based fashion brand founded by Kwenzekile (known as Kwenzi) Nkomo.
Renowned for blending African heritage, prints, and Shweshwe fabric, the brand showcased its signature style at Uganda International Fashion Week. The collection highlighted intricate beadwork and rich African prints woven into modern silhouettes, featuring clothing with dramatic flair, volume, and statement structures.
Eunice Signature
All the way from Ghana, and founded by Eunice Blessing Shika, Eunice Signature had their own signature party. The label views African fashion as a powerful story of culture, identity, creativity, and evolution.
Dutah Muhangi
@dutah_muhangi took us on a journey to somewhere she alone could imagine.
ÌK-PEN
ÌK-PEN is a luxury women’s fashion and lifestyle brand based in Abuja, Nigeria, known for its timeless silhouettes, rich heritage blending, exquisite textiles and contemporary energy.
ARAPAPA
Founded in 2001 by Santa Anzo, ARAPAPA takes its name from the word for “butterfly” in her native Madi language, symbolizing transformation, diversity, and natural beauty.
Starting humbly in the driveway of a Kampala beauty salon, the label quickly grew into one of East Africa’s premier fashion houses. Built on an Afrocentric ethos, ARAPAPA specializes in high-end couture, ready-to-wear collections, and bespoke tailoring that celebrate African heritage through bold colors, structured silhouettes, and traditional textiles.
Natasha Rubadiri
After designing spaces for over 20 years, @natasha.rubadiri is now designing what you wear.
Her bespoke brand ‘Natwe’ made its debut last evening during Uganda International Fashion Week with collection titled EAST MEETS SOUTH, which draws inspiration from the multi-country journey of her father—the late diplomat, poet, and storyteller Prof. David Rubadiri—and her own travels across Africa.
Lulungi Couture
For their collection presented during Uganda International Fashion Week, Lulungi Couture explored the intersection of sharp structural tailoring and artisanal, organic textures.
The SEED
The SEED (Skilled Expressive Entrepreneurial Design) Show is a prominent Ugandan fashion mentorship and training project founded, organized, and hosted by acclaimed designer Ras Kasozi (the visionary behind the KAS WEAR brand).
The project promotes fashion entrepreneurship, empowers up-and-coming designers, and raises the standards of the local fashion industry by teaching the “business behind fashion”. Participants undergo intensive workshops covering tailoring, pattern drafting, idea development, teamwork, networking, and financial literacy.
The participants showcased during Uganda International Fashion Week
