Sylvia Owori (in white dress) the chairperson of the Uganda One Festival with other partners at the launch of the second edition
By Our Reporter
KAMPALA: Music, fashion, film, and enterprise are set to take centre stage once again as the Uganda One Festival officially launched its second edition, unveiling a lineup of national partners and opening exhibitor registration in a move organisers say will deepen the link between creativity and economic transformation.
At a press conference held Thursday in Kampala, organisers announced that the 2026 edition will run under the theme “We Are One,” a rallying call aimed at uniting Ugandans across culture, business, and innovation.
Among the key highlights of the announcement was the entry of Operation Wealth Creation as a strategic partner, signalling a growing shift to position the creative industry not just as entertainment, but as a driver of livelihoods and national development.
Sylvia Owori the director Operations at Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and also the chairperson of the Uganda One Festival said 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, calling on creatives, entrepreneurs, and innovators to take advantage of the platform to showcase their work and scale their ventures.
The festival, which debuted successfully last year, is expanding its footprint in 2026 with a broader focus that blends entertainment with enterprise. Organisers confirmed that exhibitor registration is now open and will run from April 30 to June 30, targeting participants from across the country.
From rising musicians and fashion designers to agro-processors and tech innovators, the festival is positioning itself as a national marketplace of ideas and talent.
Solomon Aboda the Chairperson of the WALK creatives in Northern Uganda who represented the creatives in the country at the launch implored all members of the different domains to start preparing and ensure they register with a promise to ensure they attend the event.
Expected domains
This year’s edition will feature a wide range of domains including music, performing arts, film and photography, fashion, visual arts, culinary arts, tourism, innovation, and creative enterprise creating a vibrant mix of entertainment and business networking opportunities.
A major attraction within the programme is the Uganda One Fashion Week, which organisers describe as a flagship platform designed to spotlight local designers, models, stylists, and textile innovators on a national stage.
Beyond the glitz and performances, the festival is also drawing strength from partnerships with key institutions such as the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, the Uganda Tourism Board, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the National Social Security Fund, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the Walk Creative Arts Foundation.
Organisers noted that the partnerships reflect a coordinated national effort to promote Uganda’s creative industries, tourism potential, and inclusive economic growth.
The festival will roll out regional activations across the country, giving participants an opportunity to engage audiences at grassroots level before culminating in a grand finale in Kampala later in the year.
For many in the creative sector, the initiative comes at a time when platforms that blend exposure with economic opportunity are increasingly in demand.
By merging entertainment with enterprise, Uganda One Festival is steadily redefining how talent is nurtured, marketed, and monetized turning what was once seen purely as performance into a viable pathway for national development.
As preparations gain momentum, organisers urged Ugandans from all walks of life to participate, collaborate, and embrace the spirit of unity embedded in this year’s theme.
In their words, the message is simple but ambitious: build together, connect widely, and grow Uganda as one. Any willing participating individual or a group, can find the details on; www.ugandaonefestival.com.
