By Enock Ndyamuhakyi
Kabale, Uganda – April 26, 2025-The Bakiga Tribe from the Kigezi Region has emerged victorious in the second edition of the Kabale University Annual Cultural Gala, walking away with the top prize — a bull — after two days of vibrant cultural celebration.
The two-day event, which ran from April 25th to 26th at the university playground on Kikungiri Hill in Southern Division, Kabale Municipality, saw the Bakiga outperform nine other tribes from across Uganda. They secured the highest total score of 447 points across six competitive categories, including set piece, folk song, folk dance, food and medicine exhibition, and dress code.
The Bakonjo from the Rwenzori region came in second with 437 points and took home a goat, while the Banyankore finished third with 388 points. Other participants included the Baganda (386 points), Bafumbira (374), Luo (369), Banyoro-Batoro (368), Teso (356), and West Nile tribes (342).
During the awarding ceremony, Walter Asiko, a member of the panel of judges, explained that the scoring was based on several criteria such as tone and diction for the set piece, confidence and poise in the dress code, sound synchronization for the folk song, relevance and authenticity for folk dances, and proper methods of storage and preservation for the food and medicine exhibition.
In his remarks, Professor John Mugisha, Kabale University’s Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, emphasized the importance of appreciating cultural diversity. “The challenge we have as Africans is spending much time criticizing other people’s cultures instead of appreciating the differences in food, languages, and other aspects,” Prof. Mugisha noted.
Meserch Katusiime, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, echoed this sentiment, urging that cultural differences be used as a foundation for development rather than division.
The University’s Ninth Guild President, Edwinnie Mukamawenka, alongside the Minister of Social Affairs and Cultural Mobilization, Emmanuel Akampa, praised the event as a unifying force among students from various cultural backgrounds.
The gala was characterized by a rich showcase of traditions, including pet names from the Banyoro-Batoro, warrior dances, demonstrations of locally produced alcohol and medicine, and a vibrant display of African food and fashion. The colorful event also drew participation from external guests such as representatives from the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), the Ankole Kingdom, and Mr. and Miss Ankole Western University, Pultazio Twinamatsiko and Adellah Orikiriza.
The success of this year’s edition cements the Kabale University Annual Cultural Gala as a key event promoting cultural pride, unity, and talent among Uganda’s youth.
