Uganda One Festival Launches Second Edition With Focus on ‘Creative Economy’

Music, fashion, film, and enterprise are set to take centre stage once again as the Uganda One Festival officially launched its second edition on Thursday. The launch, held in Kampala, unveiled a lineup of national partners and opened exhibitor registration in a move organisers say will deepen the link between creativity and economic transformation.

The 2026 edition will run under the theme “We Are One,” a rallying call aimed at uniting Ugandans across culture, business, and innovation.

A major highlight of the announcement was the entry of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) as a strategic partner. Organisers noted that this signals a shift to position the creative industry not just as entertainment, but as a primary driver of livelihoods and national development.

Sylvia Owori, the Director of Operations at OWC and Chairperson of the Uganda One Festival, stated that the partnership aligns with their mandate to empower communities through enterprise and innovation.

“This collaboration reflects a shared vision of unity, productivity, and national transformation,” Owori noted, urging creatives and entrepreneurs to use the platform to scale their ventures.

The festival is expanding its footprint this year, positioning itself as a national marketplace for talent ranging from musicians and fashion designers to agro-processors and tech innovators.

Expected domains for 2026 include:

• Music and Performing Arts
• Film and Photography
• Fashion (featuring the flagship Uganda One Fashion Week)
• Visual and Culinary Arts
• Tourism and Innovation
• Creative Enterprise

Exhibitor registration is officially open and will run from April 30 to June 30, targeting participants from across the country. To ensure grassroots engagement, the festival will roll out regional activations across Uganda before culminating in a grand finale in Kampala later this year.

The initiative is supported by several key institutions, including the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), among others.

By merging entertainment with enterprise, the Uganda One Festival aims to redefine how talent is nurtured and monetized, turning performance into a viable pathway for national development.

Interested individuals or groups can find further details and registration information at www.ugandaonefestival.com.