Dr. Hamis Kiggundu Donates UGX 200 Million to Power Kampala City Festival
September 16, 2025
KAMPALA, Oct. 12 (Reuters) — The sun rose over Kololo Ceremonial Grounds as Kampala’s heartbeat pulsed anew, marked by music, dance, and enterprise. The city’s biggest annual celebration, the Kampala City Festival 2025, returned with renewed vigor, thanks to the generosity of philanthropist and real estate magnate Dr. Hamis Kiggundu, CEO of Ham Group of Companies.
Two weeks before the event, Dr. Kiggundu pledged UGX 200 million toward the festival, making his firm the largest private sponsor and reigniting enthusiasm for a celebration that symbolizes Kampala’s resilience and collective pride.
By midmorning, the city’s streets had transformed into a vibrant procession of color and rhythm. More than 4,000 Ham Group representatives, clad in festival-branded attire, paraded from Buganda Road to Kololo, accompanied by ten entertainment trucks promoting the company’s subsidiaries—from real estate and finance to philanthropy and technology. The spectacle, personally flagged off by Dr. Kiggundu, amplified this year’s theme, “Culture, Innovation, and Sustainability.”
Organized by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the 2025 festival marked a triumphant revival after a long hiatus. Kololo buzzed with excitement as artisans displayed crafts, food vendors served local favorites, and children played in the new “Children’s Village,” a vibrant zone filled with games and art activities.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki and State Minister for Kampala Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye lauded the collaboration between private sponsors and city authorities. “This event shows what can happen when creativity and community align,” Buzeki remarked during a site inspection.
As dusk fell, the main stage came alive with performances by top Ugandan artists including Ava Peace, Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Minister Rachael Kay, and the Watoto Children’s Choir. Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, attending as Guest of Honour, commended KCCA and its partners for organizing a festival that “captures Kampala’s spirit of inclusivity and joy.”
Throughout the day, Ham Group’s strong presence—from volunteer teams to event branding—was unmistakable. Social media feeds buzzed with posts tagged #HamAtKCF2025, highlighting the company’s participation and national pride under the slogan “For God and My Country.”
For Dr. Kiggundu, the festival was more than a sponsorship. It reflected his belief in public-private collaboration as a catalyst for Uganda’s growth. “Every thriving city has a private sector that drives innovation,” he said. “Our partnership with KCCA demonstrates that nation-building is a shared responsibility.”
As fireworks lit the Kampala sky, the festival concluded with a sense of unity and optimism. Citizens celebrated not only their culture but also the partnership between business and community that made it shine.
Kampala rejoiced. Ham Group inspired. And Dr. Hamis Kiggundu reminded the city that true progress is built when enterprise and society move together.
