With an overflow of cheap beer, revellers did not care that the lined-up artistes did not perform. PHOTOS/COURTESY/BBC
There was a lot of expectations at the inaugural Sauce of the Nile Festival at the Nile Park Resort in Jinja.
According to the organisers, the festival at the weekend, aimed to celebrate the River Nile through heritage, art, music, and culture with the foundation’s initiative expected to create cross-border tourism opportunities, positioning Uganda as a key attraction on the African tourism map.
The event was expected to attract more than 10,000 revellers, boosting local businesses and promoting Uganda’s cultural and natural treasures with activities such as tree-planting, camping, boat cruises, and adventure tourism.
With a variety in offering, the numbers did not meet the organisers’ expectations for the two-day event that was low and only grew towards the end for an event that started on Friday.
The headlining acts, including Bebe Cool, Kent and Flosso and Henry Tigan came through at the venue but did not perform. We gathered that they reached a mutual agreement with organisers to skip this performance because of the low turn up.
To ensure the good times never stopped, revellers enjoyed massive discounts on drinks, especially Tusker Lager that was going for Shs1,000. This kept the energy high and the party going well into the wee hours.
Despite this hiccup, the small numbers clearly had a good time. They minded so little about the activities on the stage as they gathered in groups, sang their own songs and danced the evenings away until performances.
Emma Sax delivered a captivating instrumental session, followed by musical mashups that blended traditional sounds with modern beats, featuring iconic tracks such as Fred Ssebatta’s Dolle yo Mwanda and Mercy Crow’s Omuzimu gwa Nankya. Later urban sensations, Lagum, Max Noir and Kohen Jaycee brought a new-age sound, captivating the audience with their contemporary music catalogues.
Eastern Uganda’s rap scene shone bright with upcoming artiste, Macho Pound’s freestyle, which thrilled the crowd. The tempo soared as Emmanice DJ turned up the heat, sending the audience into a frenzy as they seamlessly switched from traditional Ugandan dance moves to the infectious grooves of Amapiano routines. A heartfelt Mowzey Radio tribute added a poignant note, honouring the legend while uniting the crowd in shared nostalgia.
Backed by Tusker Lager, the festival aimed at transforming Nile Park Resort into a hub for music, art, and adventure.
“Our goal is to unpack the Nile’s full potential – its beauty, its adventure, and its heritage,” said Max Noir.
She also emphasised the event’s eco-tourism through its Greening the Nile initiative.
