Uganda International Fashion Week Set for Grand Finale Runway Gala at Serena

What the report says

Uganda International Fashion Week is returning after a six-year break, with its week-long programme set to conclude on Saturday, September 5, in a grand finale runway gala at Kampala Serena Hotel’s Victoria Marquee. According to Nile Post, the event opened on Sunday, August 30, and the closing showcase is expected to bring together designers, models, industry figures and other creatives for an evening centered on fashion, culture, sustainability and business.

The event is being staged under the theme “Fashion for Impact,” with organisers presenting it as more than a runway show. The reported programme has included a Fashion and Business Expo, mentorship activities and networking aimed at linking young creatives with buyers, established designers and potential investors. Santa Anzo, UIFW’s founder and lead designer at Arapapa, said the structure was intended to help emerging talent access markets and build industry relationships.

Nile Post reported that the lineup includes designers from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and India, alongside Ugandan names such as Lincoln Axarya, Anita Beryl, Natasha Rubadiri and Santa Anzo. The collections are expected to draw on cultural heritage and locally available materials, with an emphasis on sustainability. The gala is also expected to feature runway training for models and broader business-to-business engagement, underscoring UIFW’s effort to position fashion as a source of employment and economic opportunity in Uganda and beyond.