October 5, 2026
ROUTES & ROOTS FESTIVAL 2026: FORT PORTAL PREPARES FOR A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE, MUSIC AND ADVENTURE
The Routes & Roots Festival 2026 is set to make its debut from 29–31 October 2026 at Lake Saaka Recreation Centre in Fort Portal Tourism City. The three-day festival is designed to bring together culture, music, tourism, food, art and adventure, creating an experience that goes beyond a conventional music festival. Under the theme “Different Routes. Shared Roots,” the event aims to reconnect people with Uganda’s diverse heritage while giving visitors an opportunity to discover Fort Portal and the wider Toro region.
One of the major attractions will be the festival's Cultural Village, where visitors will encounter traditional dances, storytelling, crafts, food and cultural displays. The program will also feature an Empaako naming ceremony, traditional fashion, culinary experiences and opportunities to interact with artisans. Music will remain an important part of the festival, with live performances, DJs, comedy, spoken word and sunset entertainment planned across different stages. The organisers are also creating a Tourism Expo where tourism operators, accommodation providers and other businesses can connect with visitors and showcase what Uganda has to offer.
What makes Routes & Roots particularly interesting is the way it connects the festival with Fort Portal's natural attractions. Visitors will have opportunities to participate in activities such as crater-lake photography tours, chimpanzee trekking excursions in Kibale National Park and visits to Amabere Caves. The wider festival concept also includes adventure experiences around the region, allowing visitors to turn their trip into a complete getaway rather than attending the festival alone. This combination of entertainment, culture and exploration is intended to encourage visitors to spend more time discovering Fort Portal and its surroundings.
The festival is also being presented as a platform for bringing Ugandans from different regions together and celebrating the country's cultural diversity. Organizers say the experience will feature cultural representations from areas including Tooro, Buganda, Acholi, Busoga and Karamoja, while future editions are envisioned as a rotating festival that can move to different cities across East Africa. With Fort Portal providing the setting for the first edition, Routes & Roots offers visitors a chance to experience Uganda beyond the traditional safari — through its people, traditions, food, creativity, music and landscapes.
