From cultural richness to breathtaking landscapes, Gulu Oktoberfest 2025 is not just a festival—it’s a transformative moment for tourism, business, and pride in Northern Uganda.
By Willy Chowoo |4th July,2025
Gulu City is preparing to host the first-ever Oktoberfest in
Uganda, scheduled for October 6–14, 2025, an event poised to place Northern Uganda on the global tourism map. With over 30,000 guests expected, among them 600 visitors from Germany, the festival will be a cultural and economic milestone for a region long associated with post-conflict recovery.
The festival promises a full tourism experience, featuring guided tours to key attractions such as Fort Patiko, Aruu Falls, Murchison Falls
National Park, Amuru Hot spring, Guru Guru Hill-Where Lamogi rebell
ion of 1911 took place, and Kidepo Valley National Park. At the heart of the event will be Acholi cultural showcases, storytelling, traditional food, and crafts, making it a celebration of heritage as well as a boost for the local economy.
Chair of the organizing committee, Okidi Walter Ladwar, emphasized the opportunity the festival presents: “We want this festival to benefit the local business communities so they can make money. People in tourism, hotels, and transport must get ready. Gulu is ready to welcome the world.”
Okidi said that Gulu City’s economy needed to expand and create business opportunities that could help lift the local population out of poverty. He reminded the audience that, according to national statistics, the region remained the poorest in the entire country.
Voce 1: Mr Okidi Walter Ladwar, the chair of the organizing committee-talking about using the Gulu City Oktoberfest to fight poverty in the land
Gulu City Oktoberfest 2025 shall be celebrated on theme , “celebrating our heritage: The Heartbeat of Acholi Culture”.
The preparations include upgrading Kaunda Grounds, the main event venue, to a permanent green and secure festival space, as well as launching a dedicated website and e-ticketing system to attract global visitors. A national steering committee, chaired by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, has also been formed to guide the event and it will be launched officially on the 16th July, 2025 in Kampala.
Gulu City Mayor and co-chair of the organizing Committee, Alfred Okwonga called on stakeholders across Uganda and beyond to participate. “This festival will promote tourism and open Gulu to international trade. It is a chance for our artisans, hoteliers, and local tour operators to showcase their work to the world.”
Mayor Okwonga highlighted the wide-reaching impact, “This event will market Gulu not just as a cultural city, but as a tourism destination. It will open doors for our craftspeople, textile designers, and transporters. We’re even getting orders for local leather crafts from Europe already.”
Mr. Okwonga added that, as the organizing committee, they are writing to the Uganda
Wildlife Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Uganda Tourism Board to request training for the business community in Gulu City on hospitality.
“We want to invite them to train our community in hospitality. Our goal is to make this a yearly event until we begin to see real prosperity—and we shall continue to measure the magnificent,” he noted.
Voice2: Gulu City Mayor and the co-chair of the organizing committee shades more light on how local business communities can benefit from the Oktoberfest 2025
From cultural richness to breathtaking landscapes, Gulu Oktoberfest 2025 is not just a festival—it’s a transformative moment for tourism, business, and pride in Northern Uganda.
