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When and where was Young & Branded Season 2?
KAMPALA, UGANDA — On Saturday, September 26, 2026, the Eureka Hotel in Ntinda became the epicenter of Uganda’s youth entrepreneurial movement as celebrated journalist, podcaster, and media strategist Hannah Arinaitwe hosted the highly anticipated second edition of the Young & Branded Live Experience.
Operating under the theme “Beyond the Start: Building a Purposeful & Successful Brand,” the high-energy afternoon gathering brought together aspiring creators, media executives, digital strategists, and corporate innovators from across Kampala and beyond.
Building upon the success of its inaugural 2025 gathering, the 2026 edition officially signaled the premiere of Season 2 of the Young & Branded podcast—a platform dedicated to uncovering the unglamorous, resilient stories behind Uganda’s most influential young voices.
What drove Hannah Arinaitwe to build the Young & Branded platform?
Having built a formidable career across radio and television—including notable work with Power FM and leading corporate media campaigns—Hannah Arinaitwe created Young & Branded to bridge the gap between early-stage hustle and sustainable brand equity.
The event commenced with a live podcast session hosted by high-energy master of ceremonies Yaddah Wanjiku of 93.3 KFM.
Filled with warm emotions, Hannah expressed deep gratitude to her early believers and her parents, who attended the event in person. Attendees were treated to an exclusive preview snippet of an upcoming podcast episode featuring Hannah interviewing her own parents on faith, upbringing, and perseverance.
“When you start a vision, people judge your beginning, but purpose demands that you look beyond the start,” Hannah shared during her keynote address. “Young & Branded is not just a show; it is a community of young people who refuse to let small beginnings define their eventual impact.”
What did fashion icon Joram Muzira reveal about his journey and Miss Universe Uganda?
This was one of the afternoon’s most moving, raw, and unfiltered keynote addresses. Joram Muzira Job—founder and director of Joram Model Management (JMM) and national director for Miss Universe Uganda bled out his journey from a childhood in Kampala to managing international supermodels.
Talking of his early childhood, Joram urged the audience to embrace their individuality even when it defies traditional societal expectations:
“Growing up as a little boy, I was completely different from the other boys. I wasn’t excited about football, radio commentary, or the World Cup. I didn’t care for the cheap talk that interested most boys my age. Instead, I loved being around girls. I loved helping them dress up, styling them, and organizing mini-beauty pageants in the backyard using banana fibers to weave crowns for the queens. While other boys watched football matches, I was glued to the television watching Tyra Banks and international fashion shows. That was the environment that groomed who I became.”
From Unpaid Backstage Hustle to Global Agency Success
Joram outlined his professional rise through the Ugandan fashion industry:
- The Early Apprentice Years (2014): Joram got his initial break working under veteran fashion designer Sylvia Owori. “I wasn’t even interested in getting paid at first,” Joram recalled. “I was driven purely by passion. I was doing the dirty work backstage—oiling models’ skin, fixing garments, and managing logistics. I just wanted to learn the trade.”
- Building Joram Model Management: Through consistency, Joram built JMM into East Africa’s premier modeling agency, discovering and training international Ugandan supermodels—including global icons such as Achol Ayor and Patricia Akello—who now walk runways in Paris, Milan, New York, and London. “They are out there making it big and earning crazy money because they were trained right here from the ground up,” he noted.
- Addressing the Miss Universe Uganda Controversy: Addressing public feedback regarding the recent national pageant selection, Joram clarified the structural reality of international pageantry: “Crowning a national queen is a collective, weighted decision made by an independent panel of judges based on strict scoring criteria—it is never a one-person decision. While Kimberly did not take the main crown, her overwhelming public support earned her the Miss Popularity title, which we deeply celebrate.”
How has 23-year-old Denise Ayebare traveled over 60 countries through debate and advocacy?
Taking the stage to share insights on resilience and personal branding, 23-year-old international debater and youth advocate Denise Ayebare captivated the audience with her journey across more than 60 countries.
Denise recounted how her passion for competitive debate during her secondary school years opened doors to national parliaments, international summits, and global funding bodies.
Key Takeaways From Denise Ayebare’s Presentation
- Continuous Career Exploration: Denise emphasized that finding a authentic personal brand requires experimenting across different fields. Before settling into community feeding and food security advocacy for vulnerable populations, she explored climate activism, gender equality, and policy debate until finding her true calling.
- The Power of Resilient Persistence: Addressing the reality of professional rejection when applying for global grants and fellowships, Denise shared an inspiring story of a peer: “I have a close friend who applied for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship seven consecutive times and was rejected every single year. On the eighth attempt, they were finally accepted. That is the level of resilience required if you want your brand to survive.”
Why does Wonder JR advise young creators to “be the game, not the player”?
Renowned musician, rapper, and expanding podcast host Wonder JR delivered a high-impact session on creative versatility and breaking out of restrictive industry boxes.
Rejecting the notion that creatives must confine themselves to a single medium, Wonder JR detailed his ambitious expansion into high-level digital broadcasting:
“Do not allow society to box you into a single label just because that is where they first saw you,” Wonder JR urged. “People know me as a musician, but I am building a podcasting platform designed to host global industry leaders, innovators, and thinkers on the scale of Elon Musk. Refuse to fit into the existing game. Do not just play by the rules someone else wrote—change the game entirely and write your own rules.”
Who were the key personalities, sponsors, and musical performers at the event?
The Young & Branded Live Experience brought together a rich cross-section of Kampala’s media landscape, corporate sponsors, and emerging talent:
1. Notable Industry Guests
The audience featured prominent youth leaders and media figures, including Keith Namu (UOX Gazaland), Caleb Joshua (Kiis FM / Capital FM affiliate), and guest speaker Fiona Kemi, all contributing to energetic Q&A exchanges on brand monetization and digital strategy.
2. Live Musical Highlights
Providing the artistic backdrop for the event, rising musical artist Eduwardo Kayondo delivered a soulful acoustic performance. His signature song—featuring rich lyrical storytelling referencing Harare, Zimbabwe, and Ugandan heritage—captivated the crowd, earning standing ovations and calls for follow-up media coverage.
3. Ceremonial Season 2 Launch and Networking
The event culminated in an official cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the launch of Young & Branded Season 2, followed by an evening networking session over coffee, tea, and bites.
Attendees actively exchanged contacts through structured networking forms. Representing Kampala Edge Times, editor John Kenny Adeya spearheaded community engagement, connecting with over 25 emerging creators and business founders to feature in upcoming editorial profiles.
With strong media backing from UBC Television and ticket distribution powered by Ticketyo, the second edition of the Young & Branded Live Experience established a high benchmark for youth empowerment, brand positioning, and collaborative storytelling in Uganda.
