Drums of Culture Echo at UNITE: KUSA Crowned Gala Champions

The Main Hall of UNITE Unyama Campus came alive today as students and staff gathered for this year’s Cultural Gala, a colorful celebration of tradition, talent, and unity. With the theme “The Role of Culture in Environmental Preservation,” the event showcased how cultural practices can inspire responsibility toward both heritage and nature.

Five associations participated in the competition Karamoja Unyama Students’ Association (KUSA), Acholi Unyama Students’ Association (AUSA), Lango Students’ Association (LASA), West Nile Unyama Students’ Association (WENUSA), and Alur Unyama Students’ Association (ALUSA). AUSA entered as last year’s champions, while KUSA came determined to make their mark.

The gala featured performances across four items; set piece, folk song, traditional folk dance, and speech. Each group used creative expression to reflect their culture while addressing environmental themes. KUSA impressed with a traditional folk song about marriage and an energetic dance that had the audience applauding in rhythm. AUSA kept spirits high with their folk song entry, while LASA tackled a pressing environmental concern deforestation through a powerful performance depicting a drought-stricken community appealing to ancestors for rain. WENUSA also carried the environmental torch, staging a folk song about punishing a man who cut down trees, alongside a spirited rendition of the traditional Kole dance. AUSA captivated the hall with a folk song narrating the story of an impotent man whose prayers and offerings led to the blessing of new life, celebrated joyfully by the community.

After spirited competition, KUSA emerged as the overall winner of the 2025 Cultural Gala, rallying under their slogan, “One KUSA, One People.” They were followed by AUSA in second place, LASA in third, WENUSA in fourth, and ALUSA in fifth. The adjudication was carried out by experienced judges Mr. Okot Thomas, a teacher at Kololo Hills Primary School in Amuru District, and Mr. Lango James Patwon from Vanguard Primary School in Gulu City who commended the associations for their creativity and adherence to the theme.

In his remarks, Vice Guild President Ochan Bosco praised the cultural associations for their participation, emphasizing the fairness of the judging process and urging all groups to embrace the results with unity. Representing the Campus Dean, Ms. Auma Ketty, Dean of Students, lauded the students for proudly showcasing their cultural identities. She stressed that culture fosters belonging, creativity, and entertainment, all of which were evident in the day’s performances. She also reminded students that preserving cultural traditions goes hand-in-hand with protecting the environment, a responsibility that today’s youth must carry forward.

The gala not only crowned winners but also underscored the richness of Uganda’s cultural diversity, reminding all present that tradition and innovation can unite to address modern challenges like environmental conservation