Loading The Days Kampala Fills Up…
The days each year that bring big crowds and road closures to Kampala — Martyrs' Day, the Kabaka's Run, the City Festival — when they fall and what they do to the city.
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A handful of days each year fill Kampala's roads — or close them. Pilgrimages, runs and festivals that bring huge crowds and police traffic plans. This is when they fall and what they do to the city, so you can plan around them. Some move year to year; the ones marked “about” are fixed closer to the time.
In 46 days
Independence Day
Friday, 9 October 2026 · National holiday
Uganda's national day. When the main celebrations are held in Kampala (the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds), expect road closures and a heavy security presence in the city centre.
A public holiday — most offices and many shops close. The City Festival is timed around it, so early-to-mid October is the busiest stretch of the city's year.
About early-to-mid October 2026 · KCCA · ends at Kololo
exact dates vary — confirm before you go
KCCA's street festival, timed around Independence Day, ends in a grand procession through the city to Kololo. KCCA sets the date each year and it can move.
About mid-April (a Sunday near 13 April) 2027 · Buganda Kingdom · Lubiri, Mengo
exact dates vary — confirm before you go
Tens of thousands run and walk from the Lubiri at Mengo to mark the Kabaka's birthday and a chosen cause. The exact Sunday is announced each year.
How these dates work
Fixed dates — feast days, holidays — recur every year and are worked out forward from today, so this stays right without updates. Dates marked as approximate move year to year. The exact hours, and whether an event runs at all in a given year, are set by the host: confirm with them before you set out.
Fuller calendars: KCCA — city news and notices — Where road-closure and event notices are posted before the big days.
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Thursday, 3 June 2027 · Namugongo shrines
Millions of pilgrims converge on the Catholic and Anglican shrines at Namugongo, many walking in from across the country over the days before. It is the single biggest crowd day of Kampala's year.
Fri, 9 Oct
Independence Day · in 46 days