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| Allan Kasujja of the Media Center Uganda |
The Uganda Media Centre, in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National
Guidance, has launched Sauti Ya Uganda, a major nationwide singing competition
aimed at reviving appreciation for the Uganda National Anthem and the East
African Community Anthem.
Unveiled on 10th July 2026, the initiative invites soloists, choirs, bands,
and cultural groups to deliver creative renditions of both anthems — in any
style, language, or arrangement. Organisers hope to address the reality that
many Ugandans know only the first stanza of “Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty,”
while awareness of the EAC Anthem remains limited.
Executive Director Allan Kasujja described the anthems as more than
ceremonial pieces, calling them powerful symbols of unity, identity, and
shared aspirations. The competition is strategically timed ahead of Uganda’s
hosting of AFCON 2027, with support from the tournament’s organising
committee.
Prizes are substantial: the overall winner will receive UGX 100 million,
while each regional champion (from Central, Northern, Eastern, Western, and
Southern zones) takes home UGX 20 million.
The grand finale is set for Independence Day, October 9, 2026.A parallel
TikTok Challenge offers weekly prizes of UGX 1 million and a top prize of
UGX 5 million to boost youth participation. Registration is open until
August 8, 2026.
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| Musician Richard Kaweesa during his "I AM UGANDAN" Campaign |
This effort echoes a similar patriotic campaign a few years ago by musician and producer Richard Kaweesa’s “I Am Ugandan” initiative that had also included a rewriting of the National Anthem music and song arrangement, that campaign also used music to strengthen national identity.
Sauti Ya Uganda stands as both a talent search and a cultural movement,
inviting every Ugandan to rediscover and reinterpret the songs that define
their nation.
Uganda National Anthem Played at the Uganda Film Festival 2025 (Watch)
