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GULU, Uganda — Bell Lager has officially started the road to Bell ObaFest 2026 with a high-energy two-day activation in Gulu City on 9 and 10 October. The Independence Day weekend takeover turned Password Lounge and Kweyo Village Shoppers into festival grounds filled with music, games, art, dance and cold Bell Lager.
Bell ObaFest has grown into one of Uganda’s biggest annual beer-and-culture celebrations. The Gulu stop marks the beginning of a series of regional activations leading up to the main festival scheduled for 7 November.
What happened on the first night of Bell ObaFest in Gulu?
The celebrations opened on Independence Day at Password Lounge. The venue was transformed into an interactive space where partygoers competed in video games, played card games, watched live painting sessions and took part in high-stakes dance competitions. Guest MC Uganda kept the energy high throughout the evening.
Nigerian Afrobeats artist Deobi took the stage as the headline act. He delivered a set of popular hits and closed with a strong performance of “All Over You,” which got the crowd fully involved and marked a successful introduction to the Gulu audience.
Which local artists performed on the second day in Gulu?
On 10 October the party moved to Kweyo Village Shoppers. The second night put the spotlight firmly on Northern Uganda talent. Freeboy, Eezzy and Pato Lover Boy delivered energetic stage performances that kept the venue lively.
The sound was handled by a strong DJ lineup that included DJ TING, Deejay Crystal, DJ Meek 47 and DJ Frisco, with MC Lucky controlling the crowd and maintaining the momentum until late.
What did Uganda Breweries say about the Gulu activation?
Lillian Kansiime, representing Uganda Breweries Limited, described the two days as a clear statement of intent for the rest of the tour.
“Our goal with these activations is to celebrate the beers at the heart of these experiences by creating spaces where people can gather around great music, food, and a Bell Lager,” she said. “Everything we delivered across these two days in Gulu captures the standard, scale, and energetic experience that consumers across the country can expect when the ultimate beer festival takes center stage on November 7.”
Why does Bell ObaFest matter beyond Kampala?
Previous editions of Bell ObaFest have largely been centred in Kampala. By starting the 2026 journey in Gulu, Bell Lager is deliberately taking the festival experience to other regions. The brand has used similar regional stops in past years to build excitement before the main event and to give local artists and audiences a bigger platform.
The Gulu activation combined international and local talent, interactive entertainment and the core elements of music, food and beer that define ObaFest.
When is the main Bell ObaFest 2026 event?
With the Gulu takeover completed, attention now shifts to the remaining regional stops. The flagship Bell ObaFest 2026 is scheduled for 7 November. Organisers say the main festival will be bigger in scale and will bring together music, culture and social connection for beer lovers from across the country.
The two-day Gulu activation has set an early benchmark for the energy and quality expected as the road to ObaFest continues.
