Vipingo Ridge joins exciting new Culture and Sports Tourism Festival
Uganda and Kenya work closely promoting tourism between our two countries. Since 2022 there has been proactive cooperation, including an annual Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference (this year to be held in November in Kampala, Uganda).
The objectives of the partnership are to highlight the complimentary tourism products.
On 27th March 2024, the Consulate General of the Republic of Uganda in Mombasa and tourism stakeholders joined for a launch event for the media. This event was to announce a new event for the Uganda-Kenya coast partnership calendar.
His Excellency Ambassador Paul Mukumbya and Vipingo Ridge CEO Alex Horsey at the media launch
Uganda Festival 2024
The Uganda Festival is a celebration of culture and sports. Both of these create fantastic tourism opportunities for international, regional and domestic tourists to explore, visiting new places and trying new things.
The event is held under the theme: “leveraging culture and golf to promote tourism, trade and investment between Uganda and Kenya Coast”. The programme is from 17th April to 20th April. At each venue there is an opportunity to purchase tickets to the event.
Kwale County: Diani Reef on 17th April 2024;
Kilifi County: Ocean Beach Resort & Spa, Malindi, on 18th April 2024;
Kilifi County: Vipingo Ridge on 19th April 2024;
Vipingo Ridge: Golf tournament on 20th April 2024;
Mombasa County: Fort Jesus on 20th April 2024.
During the evening functions each day there will be a number of amazing elements to truly share the culture of Uganda. There is a dinner, where Ugandan cuisine like matooke, luwombo and groundnut paste will be served. This authetic and curated culinary experience is not to be missed.
Entertainment from Anne Kansiime and Ndere Troupe
Anne Kansiime, renowned Ugandan comedian will be joining us. She has won numerous awards in the entertainment industry, has over 1 million instagram followers and her unique style of comedy and TV shows have gathered fans in East Africa and beyond.
As well as the dinner the Kenyan Coast welcomes the Ndere Troupe. They perform an energetic repertoire of authentic Ugandan dances and songs accompanied by various indigenous instruments.
If dinner and a show was not enough, the event will also be showcasing some popular Ugandan products like Uganda Waragi.
Images courtesy of Ndere Troupe and Anne Kansiime
Uganda comes to Vipingo Ridge
Vipingo Ridge is very pleased to join the team of venues supporting this new event. On Friday 19th April 2024 the Cultural Performance Evening, there will be a combination of authentic cuisine and performances that will delight the assembled audience of Kilifi stakeholders, Ugandan visitors and Vipingo Ridge and Vipingo residents. Tickets will be priced at 5000/- per person and a portal will be live soon to take payments.
Vipingo Ridge also has a 60 room resort, so if guests would like to arrange to stay our reservations team is on hand to help with your booking. All our rooms have ocean views and stays are inclusive of breakfast.
On Saturday 20th April 2024 the inaugural Kilifi Uganda Open will take place on the Vipingo Ridge PGA Baobab Course. A mixed 18-hole competition, this opportunity for friendly competition and networking will be a wonderful day, including a lunch and prizegiving. Spectators from our visiting tourism stakeholders will be able to enjoy a day of watching sport within our Wildlife Sanctuary.
Our Stay and Play package
If this event is for you we have a package for joining the Cultural Performance Evening, an overnight stay joining a golf team. You are also welcome to stay for an afterparty should you wish.
More details can be found on our Event Page for the Kilifi Uganda Open.
Objectives of the Uganda Festival
The major aim of the festival is to highlight the unique Ugandan products to a wider number of corporate Kenyans at the Coast, the youth and other regional and international tourists at the Kenya Coast. As well as presenting the culture of Uganda (through performance and cuisine) and the sports competition, and of course the incredible atmosphere, the festival aims to showcase Ugandan niche tourism products.
The opportunities when visiting Uganda are something very different from the Kenyan Coast, and are truly complimentary to the Kenyan coastal experience. For example the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. A very special and well organised conservation focused opportunity to see these amazing animals in their rainforest habitats is not available at the Kenyan Coast. Experiencing the water rafting on the River Nile or visiting Murchison Falls too. There are also religious and cultural tourism opportunities, such as pilgrimages. All of these align with the concept of complementarity products between the Uganda and the Kenya Coast.
Join us at the Ugandan Festival
It is estimated 1800 guests will be able to experience the Uganda Festival, but places are limited. At Vipingo Ridge we have capacity for only 50 more places. For the golf we are aiming for 80 golfers to join us from Uganda and Kenya.
Contact us to sign up for alerts on the Uganda Festival. Ways to buy tickets for the Cultural Performance Night will be available soon. If you are interested in joining the golf competition and have any questions please contact the Events Team.