Students from across the continent turned Graduation Square into a showcase of dance, fashion, and food as BUSA hosted the sixth edition of its annual gala
For one evening, Bugema University felt less like a campus and more like the whole of Africa in one place.
On Thursday, October 22, students from 14 African countries gathered at Graduation Square for the Cultural Gala 2026, the sixth edition of the annual celebration organised by the Bugema University Students Association (BUSA).
Running under the theme “Preserving Culture, Empowering Leadership, Building the Future,” the gala gave students a stage to show the traditions they carry from home, and a chance for the rest of the university to see them.
The line-up read like a map of the continent. From East Africa came Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Somalia and South Sudan represented the Nile. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa brought the centre and south of the continent, while Nigeria flew the flag for West Africa.
Cultural dance sat at the heart of the programme, with each community bringing its own rhythms, songs and movements to the square. Away from the dance floor, a fashion segment put traditional attire in the spotlight, from flowing robes to beadwork and woven fibre, while a food exhibition offered guests a taste of home cooking from across the participating nations.
But the gala was about more than celebration. It also served as a fundraiser towards the purchase of a Coaster bus for the BUSA government, a vehicle that will ease student transport for university activities, trips and events. The call for support did not go unanswered.
Several invited companies and partners came on board to back the cause, among them YPA, Maganjo Group of Companies, Ebenezer SACCO and BUESACCO. Bugema University alumni also returned to stand with the current generation of student leaders, alongside other well-wishers who contributed to the effort.
Their presence sent a strong message: student leadership at Bugema is something the wider community is willing to invest in. Every contribution brings the students a step closer to having a bus of their own.
At a university that draws students from many corners of Africa, events like the Cultural Gala carry a significance beyond entertainment. They give international students a chance to share their identity with confidence, and give Ugandan students a window into cultures they may never otherwise encounter. In the spirit of the theme, the gala also placed student leaders at the forefront, organizing and running one of the biggest events on the campus calendar.
Now in its sixth year, the Cultural Gala has grown into one of the highlights of student life at Bugema. With 14 nations sharing one stage, this year’s edition was a reminder that the university’s diversity is not just something to talk about, but something to celebrate.
