After a six-year break, Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) is making a comeback, bringing designers, models, creatives and fashion businesses together for a week-long celebration of style, culture and commerce.
The 2026 edition opens on Sunday, August 30, at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Multipurpose Hall in Lugogo and will run through September 5 under the theme “Fashion for Impact.”
But this year’s UIFW is looking beyond the catwalk.
The organisers want fashion to serve as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and skills development, particularly for young people trying to build careers in Uganda’s growing creative economy.
The first major activity will be the Fashion and Business Expo, which runs from August 30 to September 1 with free entry.
The three-day marketplace is expected to bring together more than 10,000 young creatives, giving them an opportunity to display and sell products ranging from clothes and footwear to jewellery, art, crafts and other creative work.
The UMA hall will effectively become a meeting point between creativity and business, with exhibitions, mentorship sessions, networking and business-to-business connections forming part of the programme.
Beyond the commercial aspect, the expo will also showcase Uganda’s cultural identity through local fabrics, food, crafts, art and fashion.
The week will culminate in the runway shows and Grand Finale Gala on September 5, where 100 models selected for the main showcase will take to the runway.
The models were unveiled by Arapapa in May after undergoing weeks of training and mentorship under designer Lincoln Axarya.
For UIFW organisers, inclusion is an important part of the comeback. The initiative is designed to create opportunities for young people from different backgrounds, including refugees and persons with disabilities.
Arapapa founder Santa Anzo said the ambition is to use fashion as a practical tool for improving livelihoods rather than treating it purely as entertainment.
“UIFW aims to improve livelihoods, turn talents into skills to create employment opportunities and empower young people, especially women and girls, socially, economically and mentally,” she said.
“We want every fabric showcased on September 5 to contribute to dignified employment and sustainable income. We hope to transform the lives of 10,000 young people over the next three years through this initiative.”
The return of UIFW is also expected to give Ugandan creatives access to a wider international network.
Fashion professionals and established brands from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and India are expected to participate in activities throughout the week, creating opportunities for mentorship, knowledge sharing and potential business partnerships.
For emerging designers, the international presence could offer a rare chance to engage directly with professionals who have experience navigating fashion markets beyond Uganda.
Meanwhile, several Ugandan designers are preparing their collections for the showcase, with names such as Lincoln Axarya, Anita Beryl and Natasha Rubadiri among those putting the finishing touches to their work.
After six years away, UIFW’s return is therefore being positioned as more than a fashion comeback. Its organisers are betting on the industry as a vehicle for jobs, business, cultural exchange and new opportunities for Uganda’s young creatives.
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