The skies above Makerere University Business School (MUBS) were awash with colour on Saturday as Uganda’s Indian community marked the International Kite Flying Festival 2026 with a blend of cultural celebration and charitable outreach.
Organised by the Uganda Brahma Samaj in partnership with the Indian Association of Uganda, the event drew families, business leaders and members of the public to the MUBS grounds in Kampala for a day of kite displays, competitions and community engagement.
The festival, widely known as Uttarayan in India, is traditionally held in January. However, this year’s Ugandan edition was deferred to February 22 due to the country’s election activities earlier in the year.
The grounds featured a lively mix of kite-flying contests, cultural performances, food and beverage stalls, as well as family-friendly activities including bouncing castles and face painting. Vendors also set up kite markets, offering a variety of designs that painted the sky in vivid hues throughout the afternoon.
Speaking at the event, Mr Tushar Vyas, Secretary of the organising committee, said the festival remains significant for promoting cultural unity, artistic expression and outdoor recreation.
“The festival symbolises renewal, community bonding and the release of stress. It is not merely about flying kites but about celebrating freedom, dreams and the triumph of the human spirit,” Mr Vyas said.
Mr Sanket Byas, the group’s treasurer, commended the Government of Uganda for fostering a peaceful and stable environment that has enabled business growth and infrastructure development.
He noted that peace and policy stability have encouraged investment and strengthened the Indian community’s long-standing contribution to Uganda’s economy.
Beyond the festivities, the community also used the occasion to promote social responsibility, organising a blood donation drive as part of its broader health outreach initiatives.
Organisers said the kite festival continues to foster intergenerational ties, with elders passing down the art of kite flying to younger members of the community. The celebration, they added, has grown beyond its cultural origins to become a global event that promotes joy, togetherness and shared heritage.
The Indian community remains a key pillar of Uganda’s economy, with investments spanning manufacturing, banking, agriculture and real estate. Community leaders estimate that their enterprises contribute a substantial share of the country’s tax revenue and provide thousands of jobs.
In addition to economic participation, the community has supported social development through the construction of schools and hospitals, sponsorship of life-saving heart surgeries for children, and regular blood donation drives.
Saturday’s festival, therefore, served not only as a cultural showcase but also as a reaffirmation of the community’s enduring ties and contribution to Uganda’s social and economic landscape.