Kampala had never seen a party quite like this.
The first-ever Cantina Fiesta touched down at Ndere Cultural Centre, turning Kisasi Hill into a dance-fuelled, fashion-soaked, tequila-scented playground. It wasn’t just a party; it was a cultural explosion that merged Ugandan flair with Mexican soul in honour of World Tequila Day.
And at the heart of the night’s wild rhythm and seamless flow was Kenya’s Claudia Naisabwa, the magnetic host who didn’t just present the show she owned it.
With her dazzling wardrobe changes, infectious laughter, effortless Swahili flair and a knack for keeping the crowd on its toes, Claudia gave the event its pulse. Between performances, she danced, joked, hyped the audience, and even started a few tequila chants that had the crowd roaring. You’d think she was born on a Ugandan stage.
“She really brought East African energy to the Kampala crowd,” one reveller said. “You came for the music but stayed for Claudia!”
Tequila, Threads, and Timeless Beats
The party kicked off with XFM’s DJ Denzel and Kamali, who set the vibes with a smooth sonic ride through Amapiano, Afrobeats, and RnB getting the tequila flowing and feet moving early on.
Then came the queen herself, Lilian Mbabazi, bringing the house down with hits like Danger, Ddagala, and some nostalgic love from her Blu*3 days. When A Pass joined her on stage for Memories, the crowd lost it singing every word like a choir at tequila mass.
And then came the runway moment. In a visual ode to Don Julio’s heritage, models strutted down the stage in embroidered ponchos, wide-brimmed hats, dramatic fringe, and fiery prints. It was a moving canvas of Mexican-inspired fashion that made everyone want to trade their denim for tequila tones.
Kivumbi King slid in next, bringing that smooth Rwandan charisma before A Pass came back to fully crank up the tempo. His set morphed into a dancehall frenzy, with hits like Wuuyo, Guli Wano, and Babylon Bwoy making the crowd forget all about Sunday morning. A surprise collab with Ykee Benda on Turn Up the Vibe was the shot of adrenaline the crowd didn’t know it needed.
The night climaxed after midnight with Nigeria’s Lojay making his grand entrance. With Ugandan dancers Abdi Charity and Dance Mamwetta behind him, Lojay served smooth vocals and slick choreography on tracks like Moto, Sensational, and of course, Monalisa. Phones lit up like fireflies in the sky as he closed the show in pure, euphoric fashion.
Beyond the music and madness, the event had a heartbeat of culture and intentionality.
“This was more than a party,” said Simon Lapyem, Innovations Manager at Uganda Breweries. “It was a journey through music, fashion, and storytelling. A taste of Mexico in the heart of Uganda.”
“Cantina Fiesta wasn’t just a vibe it was a blueprint,” added DJ Denzel. “It redefined how we celebrate World Tequila Day. It’s going to be hard to top this.”
