Mbarara, Uganda – The Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda Chapter (CAIA–Uganda) concluded its festive season campaign in Mbarara City at the Katereza Festival, held on 31 December 2025 on the hills of Katereza from 7:00 p.m. until late.
The festival, now in its fourth year, is an initiative by Reach A Hand Uganda held every 31 December. It brings together communities from Mbarara, Rwampara, and neighbouring districts in Western Uganda through music, cultural performances, comedy, and interactive activities. The festival provides a vibrant platform for health and social awareness campaigns as people welcome the new year, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display that lights up the hills of Katereza.
CAIA–Uganda leveraged the festival to use entertainment as a tool to raise awareness about the existence of illicit alcohol on the market and to encourage audiences to be cautious about what they drink in the new year, 2026.
The festival attracted over 10,000 people, including young people, families, and community leaders. Speaking at the festival, Humphrey Nabimanya, CEO of Reach A Hand Uganda, said, “This year’s Katereza Festival is dedicated to all those who have lost their lives or suffered ill health due to illicit alcohol. We honour the memory of those who lost their lives and recognise the devastating impact of illicit spirits on families and communities. Together, as the people of Mbarara and Rwampara, as we enter 2026, we are making a commitment to protect our lives and those of our loved ones by making safer choices against illicit alcohol.”
As 2026 was ushered in, attendees enjoyed vibrant cultural performances and music from renowned artists, including Allan Toniks, Ykee Benda, Ray Signature, Ashaba Music, Ragga Dee, and others. The artists used their performances to encourage audiences to be cautious about what they drink by choosing regulated spirits.
Comedian Kachina, who served as the master of ceremonies (MC), engaged the crowd throughout the festival, reiterating one of the campaign’s key messages: “Pause and think before you drink. Eight in ten Ugandan drinkers consume illicit alcohol.” He encouraged attendees to protect themselves and their circles from illicit alcohol in an entertaining and relatable way.
The festival marked the culmination of several community-driven initiatives held in Mbarara as part of the festive campaign. On 29 December, the Coalition onboarded 50 boda boda riders in Mbarara under the Ebiboozi Bya Boda initiative, which loosely translates to Boda Boda Conversations.
The initiative leverages boda boda riders as trusted community voices to spark continuous conversations with passengers and fellow community members about the existence of illicit alcohol, promote safer lifestyle choices, and encourage responsible decision-making during the festive season and beyond.
The initiative was launched with a roadshow around Mbarara City. Speaking during the roadshow, Atwine Augustine, Chairman of the Boda Boda Lugazi Market Stage, said, “On behalf of all boda boda riders who have been initiated into the programme, we pledge to engage with passengers and colleagues to be cautious about the alcohol they drink, as there is a lot of illicit alcohol on the market.”
On 30 December, CAIA–Uganda held a community football tournament featuring six teams in Kempungu, Mbarara, using sports as a platform to engage residents with messages about cautious drinking and community safety. The winning team received a trophy and a goat. Assimwe Daniel, one of the players, thanked the Coalition for organising the tournament, saying, “This tournament was not just about the trophy or the goat; we also learned a lot. Personally, I learned that not all alcohol is safe for consumption.”
Additionally, on 29 and 30 December, the Coalition leveraged Reach A Hand Uganda’s Kwiso Mu Cinema initiative, a film-based outreach platform, to screen real-life and relatable community stories, reaching over 300 people in Mbarara. After each screening, dialogue sessions were held to spark conversations among community members about the existence of illicit alcohol and to encourage reflection before drinking.
Recent census data show that the Western Region of Uganda is home to approximately 11.6 million people, representing about a quarter of the country’s population, while Mbarara City alone has an estimated 264,000 residents, making it one of the largest urban centres in the region.
With research indicating that around 65% of all alcohol consumed in Uganda is illicit, the scale of unregulated spirits consumption highlights the urgent need for sustained awareness and prevention efforts in Western Uganda and beyond. CAIA–Uganda remains committed to addressing this challenge.
The Coalition discourages the abuse of all forms of alcohol and further encourages adults of legal drinking age who choose to drink to avoid illicit alcohol and opt for regulated products that meet established safety standards. The Coalition also emphasises safeguarding against exposure to alcohol among those under the legal drinking age in the new year, 2026.
In 2026, the Coalition will continue its efforts to reach more districts, including Gulu, Mbale, and Jinja, among others across Uganda, while ensuring continuous and sustained awareness about the existence of illicit alcohol on the market in areas where activations were held during the festive season. These areas include Arua, Kampala, and most recently, Mbarara.
About CAIA–Uganda
The Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda Chapter (CAIA–Uganda) is a neutral, evidence-based platform that brings together government institutions, civil society, youth- and faith-based organisations, academia, media, and responsible private sector actors to reduce harm caused by illicit alcohol. The Coalition promotes coordinated action across policy, enforcement, communication, and community mobilisation to protect lives and strengthen national well-being.
The Coalition is hosted by Reach A Hand Uganda and includes partners such as Brands On A Mission, Anti-Counterfeit Network, Arrow Empirical Research & Skills Enhancement Co. Ltd (AERSE), ADAAM, Uganda Industry Alcohol Association, NBS, Bleep, and Grandstone.
