The Ugandan Cultural Fusion Gala 2026: Post-Event Reflections With Gala Organiser Baker Kiyingi

This article was drafted by Norman Busigu

On Saturday 6th June 2026, the Ugandan Cultural Fusion Gala took place at The Lighthouse Theatre in London. This event was an authentic celebration of culture, pride and connection; this was a first-of-its-kind opportunity to unite Ugandan communities and organisations in the UK under one umbrella. An all-inclusive experience to say the least, attendees were thoroughly entertained with cultural performances, fashion showcases and panel discussions. A wider aim for the lasting impact of this Gala is that this will be a launchpad from which Ugandans can move beyond operating in isolation, and cultivate stronger connections between our communities and empower the next generation of Ugandans.

With the likes of the Ugandan Airlines Crew and the High Commissioner of Uganda in attendance, the event garnered support from noteworthy entities and individual within the Ugandan community and beyond - showing the prestige and importance which the Gala holds. Attendees were encouraged to come dressed in traditional Ugandan cultural wear (i.e. Gomesi, Mushanana, Iteso Attire, Kanzu ans Barkcloth) and enjoy all the things that makes Ugandan culture special, and live up to the title “Pearl of Africa”.

To gain more insight into this red-carpet affair, I spoke with Gala Organiser Baker Kiyingi to unpack how it all went down, the bigger vision moving forward, and how the Ugandan diaspora and those on the continent can better unify our efforts.

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On Saturday 6th June 2026, the Ugandan Cultural Fusion Gala took place at The Lighthouse Theatre in London… Moving forward, this will be a yearly event. Are you able to explain in as few words as possible what this Gala is?

The Ugandan Cultural Fusion Gala 2026 is a community and cultural event created to bring Ugandans and friends of Uganda together in one space to celebrate our identity, heritage, and shared sense of belonging. It is more than just an event - it is a platform for connection, recognition, dialogue, and unity.

In more detail, can you please outline what the overarching aims of the Uganda Cultural Fusion Gala 2026 were?

At the heart of it all, this event is about love for our people, pride in our culture, and hope for what we can build together. The aims of the event are to celebrate Ugandan culture, connect different communities and organisations, promote pride in our heritage, encourage networking, and create stronger support systems within the diaspora. It is also about bridging generations, preserving culture, and creating spaces where young people can feel seen, guided, and inspired.

The event brings together a wide range of attendees including community leaders, cultural groups, youth, families, professionals, business people, creatives, and invited guests. It also features cultural performances, fashion showcases, panel discussions, community recognition, and special guests who reflect the richness and diversity of the Ugandan community.

Through this event, I hope we can achieve a stronger sense of togetherness among Ugandans in the UK, create meaningful relationships across communities, inspire the next generation, and remind our people that our differences in tribe, religion, background, or experience should never stop us from learning from one another and supporting one another.

Without a doubt, we can say that the Gala was a huge success! Powerful names and organisations in the Ugandan community (alongside our friends/allies) pulled up in full force to support - with plenty of authentic Ugandan culture on full display throughout the Gala… Who were some of notable guest attendees and performers?

The Guest of Honour was the High Commissioner of Uganda, who was accompanied by Miriam Otengo – Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Diplomacy/Diaspora Affairs. The Uganda Airlines team and Crew were also in attendance, and they gave away two Uganda Airline tickets to those lucky Gala attendees! There was also an amazing performance by ACD Arts. Other notable guests included Pauline Najjuma of T Cribbs and Pastor Elly Kironde.

Baker, I can imagine there were many moving parts that needed to align (both in the UK and Uganda) for this event to be such a success. I’m curious to know what your role in making this Gala happen was…

My role in the organising of the event has been to lead the vision, bring people together, coordinate different aspects of the programme, engage communities and partners, and help shape the event into something that speaks to unity, culture, and long-term community development.

More widely, I’m keen to know what your thoughts are on how Ugandans in the diaspora can better unite and make positive contributions to the development of our country - which is definitely in a place of great uncertainty…

I believe the Ugandan diaspora can best unite by being intentional about connection, collaboration, and mutual support. We need to move beyond operating in isolation and instead build stronger links between our communities, organisations, professionals, and young people. We can make positive contributions to the development of our country by sharing knowledge, mentoring others, investing back home, supporting community initiatives, opening opportunities for young people, and using our collective voice and networks to create both social and economic impact.