The 9th edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) ended on a sensational note on Saturday, May 24, 2025, with a vibrant cultural and music festival at Lakeside Gardens, Speke Resort Munyonyo. The event, which had kicked off on May 21, 2025, brought together tourism industry players, cultural stakeholders, and the public in a three-day celebration of Uganda’s rich tourism potential under the theme of “Showcasing the Pearl.”
Organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities in partnership with Talent Africa Group, the closing festival was a perfect fusion of culture, entertainment, and fashion, offering a fresh twist to the traditional tourism expo experience.
The evening’ highlight was a spectacular lineup of top Ugandan entertainers, headlined by the sensational girl group *BLU 3—Jackie Chandiru, Lillian Mbabazi, and Cindy Sanyu—whose nostalgic set took the audience back to the golden era of Ugandan pop with timeless hits like Nsanyuka Nawe, Hitaji, Mutima Gwange, and Sanyu Lyange.
Before that, Winnie Nwagi took the stage by storm, delivering an energetic and crowd-thrilling performance with tracks like Musawo, Magic, Chekecha, and her latest collaboration Amaaso with Vinka. Fans rushed to the stage, dancing and singing along in a euphoric atmosphere.
One of the most talked-about sets came from DJ Suuna Ben, affectionately dubbed the “Binyanyanya President,” who turned the Lakeside Gardens into a full-blown street party. Even high-profile guests couldn’t help but lose themselves in the rhythm. “I’ve hosted events before, but last night was surreal. During the day, we had the classy crowd, but when Suuna started, it turned into full kubakuba mode—I got goosebumps,” tweeted comedian Patrick Salvador Idringi, one of the evening’s hosts alongside Adele Kiele and Sheila Gashumba.
The festival opened with a scenic boating regatta on Lake Victoria, giving guests an experiential taste of Uganda’s water-based tourism. DJ Tony warmed up the crowd with his high-energy mixes before Crane Performers took the audience on a cultural journey across Uganda through music and dance.
Brian Aliddeki, known for fusing indigenous sounds with modern rhythms, captivated both locals and international visitors with his hits like Empaako Ya Niwooha, Akasilikiro, and Njagala Nkwagale.
Later in the evening, Abeeka Band lit up the stage with their crowd-pleasing renditions of popular Afrobeat and soul tunes. Their set was so well-received that the audience, led by Salvador, called them back for an encore performance.
Comedy duo Madrat and Chiko added a dose of humor with witty skits about their travel experiences across Uganda and abroad, keeping the crowd in stitches throughout their act.
One of the standout moments of the night was a fashion showcase by IGC (I Wear African)—the official fashion curator of POATE 2025—co-founded by designer Katende Godfrey. Their collection drew inspiration from Uganda’s heritage, especially the transformation of Lubugo (traditional bark cloth) into stunning, modern couture pieces, reflecting themes of sustainability and cultural pride.
The night’s final set featured Alpha Otim, pioneer of Acholitronix—a blend of electronic beats and traditional Acholi rhythms. His Larakaraka-inspired tunes pulled in a new audience and celebrated the vibrancy of Northern Ugandan culture.
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo is Uganda’s flagship tourism trade show that brings together travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, investors, and media from across the globe. It offers a platform to market Uganda as a premier travel destination, rich in biodiversity, culture, adventure, and hospitality.
This year’s edition reinforced Uganda’s positioning as “The Pearl of Africa” by seamlessly blending business with leisure, investment opportunities with cultural celebration, and local pride with international appeal.
POATE 2025 was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Tourism Association, Skills Excel, Uganda Waragi, IGC, Uganda Airlines, KCCA, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), UN Global Pulse, Lemala Wild Waters, and Speke Resort Convention Center, among others. The entire event was impeccably curated and produced by Talent Africa Group, Uganda’s leading 360° events management company.
