Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Media Centre (UMC), in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, has launched Sauti Ya Uganda (Voice of Uganda), a nationwide competition aimed at promoting patriotism, national unity and East African identity through the performance of the Uganda National Anthem and the East African Community (EAC) Anthem.
The competition, unveiled on Friday, offers a grand prize of Shs100 million and invites Ugandans to creatively perform all three stanzas of the Uganda National Anthem and the EAC Anthem in any language, musical genre or artistic style.
Registration officially opened on July 10 and will run until August 8, 2026, with the grand finale scheduled for Uganda’s 64th Independence Day celebrations on October 9, 2026.
Organisers say the initiative seeks to address growing concerns over declining civic awareness, noting that while many Ugandans can sing the first verse of the national anthem, few know all three stanzas or the East African Community Anthem.
The campaign is also intended to strengthen national cohesion and foster a stronger appreciation of Uganda’s cultural diversity while preparing citizens for the country’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under the regional Pamoja framework.
To support the initiative, organisers revealed that part of the funding has been provided by an AFCON organising partner.
Uganda Media Centre Executive Director Alan Kasujja said the competition is open to everyone, including solo performers, choirs, music bands, and cultural groups. To ensure inclusivity, he said they have provided both physical and digital registration options.
Application forms can be downloaded online or submitted physically at the Uganda National Theatre in Kampala, while regional registration centres are expected to be announced to accommodate participants from across the country.
Unlike many talent competitions, Sauti Ya Uganda will feature regional live auditions, with professional judges travelling across the country to assess contestants in their respective regions.
According to Kasujja, this approach will reduce transport costs for participants while ensuring performers using indigenous languages and traditional musical arrangements are fairly judged within their local cultural settings.
Weekly TikTok Challenge
To attract young people, the campaign also includes a digital engagement component. For four consecutive weeks, participants will compete in TikTok challenges, with the most creative weekly performance receiving Shs1 million.
The initiative aims to combine civic education with digital innovation, encouraging young Ugandans to engage with national symbols through social media.
Kasujja said the campaign is designed to inspire patriotism rather than simply reward musical talent. “Sauti Ya Uganda isn’t asking you to memorize words. It is asking you to bring back to life, in your own voice, your own language, and choose unity over division and region over tribe.”
He added: “This is not just a talent search. It is an invitation to every Ugandan, in English or in your mother tongue, to reinterpret our national anthem and East African Anthem in your own voice, style and creativity.”
The competition has received support from education, cultural and entertainment leaders, who described it as an important nation-building initiative.
Dr Benon Kigozi of the African Music Council said national symbols play an important role in strengthening unity. “The competition on the Uganda National Anthem and the East African Anthem is very important in promoting patriotism and a general sense of nationalism and belonging.”
He added: “With everyone acquainted with the anthem, the question of unification is solved because we all sing the same song for the same reason in the same nation.”
Veteran musician Hajjat Halima Namakula, one of the campaign ambassadors, welcomed the initiative, saying she was proud to support it.
“This is something I have always wanted. I am glad that the Uganda Media Centre chose me as one of the ambassadors, and I am going to do the work as they want me to because I am doing it for me and my country.”
Renowned broadcaster and storyteller Dr Mich Egwang described the national anthem as a powerful symbol of identity. “Every time I am on a given platform, I play my national anthem, and it makes me very proud. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes.”
He added, “The question we should all be asking ourselves is who we are. The national anthem gives us our identity.”
Strengthening National Unity
Beyond the prize money, organisers say Sauti Ya Uganda seeks to use music as a tool for strengthening national cohesion at a time when societies continue to grapple with political polarisation, tribal divisions and regional identities.
By encouraging contestants to perform in indigenous languages and diverse musical styles, the initiative aims to demonstrate that patriotism and cultural diversity are complementary rather than competing values.
The inclusion of the East African Community Anthem will help foster a stronger sense of regional integration as Uganda prepares to jointly host AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania.
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