The Kwetu Festival

The Kwetu fest is a biennial event that has been running since 1997. It was originally run under the name UDTA. This festival brings together at least 1000 Development Theatre Practitioners from all corners of Uganda and international participants.

The word Kwetu literally means, our home, our pride, our heritage. Kwetu Fest is a celebration that brings different people from different ethnicities and nationalities together; to enjoy their heritage and proudly show where they come from. This celebration is based on the current theme of the festival. The international groups donot compete, they simply add their own rich inheritance to the festival.

The festival is competitive to enable Ugandan groups to compare notes with each other; create a bigger public awareness; promote inter-group and inter regional co-operation and improve the quality of performances.

The Association has so far organized seven successful festivals. Starting from the Grassroots up to the National levels, which have attracted International participants from all over the World.

The festival begins at the sub-county (Local Council III) level, with all groups competing in the effective use of songs, dances, instruments and acting, to foster development. They also exhibit their income generating products. The winning groups meet at the district Headquaters and tussle it out to select the district champions who finally compete in the now famous UDTA National festival named Kwetu Fest.

The festival has gone beyond the Uganda borders, to East and Central Africa and the rest of the world. Groups from Austria, Netherlands, UK, USA, Italy, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania have been participating.