Uganda International Fashion Week will return this June, from 22 to 27, at Kampala Serena Hotel, ending a six-year break and signalling a renewed push to grow the country’s fashion industry.
The event, which has shaped Uganda’s fashion scene for more than two decades, is expected to once again bring together designers, creatives and industry players, with a stronger focus on fashion as a driver of business and jobs.
This year’s edition comes with the launch of a Creative Economy Programme running from 2026 to 2028, aimed at equipping 9,840 young people aged between 15 and 35 with practical skills and opportunities within the fashion and creative sectors.
Most of the targeted beneficiaries are women and girls, with organisers saying the programme will offer mentorship, coaching, enterprise development support and access to regional and international markets.
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The initiative is supported by Mastercard Foundation and is intended to boost youth employment while strengthening Uganda’s growing fashion ecosystem.
Founded in 2003 by designer Santa Anzo, Uganda International Fashion Week has over the years provided a platform for local designers to showcase their work and connect to global opportunities.
Organisers say the new programme expands the event beyond runway showcases to include skills development, entrepreneurship and industry growth across the fashion value chain.
“We don’t just exhibit fashion, we build livelihoods,” said Santa Anzo, Founder of ARAPAPA and the Uganda International Fashion Week. “Fashion is not only about passion, creativity, and self-expression; it is also a powerful engine for entrepreneurship, job creation, and cultural influence. Through skills training, mentorship, and enterprise support, we want to help young people transform their talent into sustainable businesses and careers,” she said.
Participants will receive training in areas such as design, garment production, model development and business structuring, alongside mentorship and access to markets and buyers.
The programme is also expected to create stronger links between creatives, investors, buyers and development partners, while supporting income generation across the sector.
Uganda International Fashion Week will remain the main platform for showcasing this work, bringing together academia, manufacturers, designers, entrepreneurs and other industry stakeholders.
Organisers say the event will also help position Uganda as an emerging hub for fashion and creative enterprise on the African continent.
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Preparations for the June event are underway, with organisers inviting development institutions, corporate partners and investors to support efforts aimed at expanding opportunities for young people and women.
The 2026 edition is organised by ARAPAPA by Santa Anzo in partnership with the International Trade Centre, Bayimba and the Mastercard Foundation.