Paresh Mehta (L), the Chairman, Indian Association of Uganda, and other members met President Museveni (R) recently
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Indian community in Uganda is set to celebrate cultural diversity, heritage and togetherness through its annual Diwali Food Festival, scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
The festival, organised by the Indian Association of Uganda (IAU) in partnership with the High Commission of India, the Ruparelia Group, Talent Africa Group and Speke Resort Munyonyo, is expected to attract members of the Indian community, Ugandans, diplomats and international visitors for an afternoon and evening of food, music and entertainment.
Businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia is expected to host the celebration at his lakeside resort, while Paresh Mehta, Chairman of the Indian Association of Uganda, will join other community leaders in welcoming guests to the annual event.
Beyond the food and entertainment, the festival carries a deeper cultural and spiritual significance, providing an opportunity for the Indian community to share its traditions with Ugandans while strengthening relationships between different cultures.
Celebrating the triumph of light over darkness
Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important celebrations in Indian culture and is observed by millions of people across the world.
The festival symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is traditionally associated with lighting lamps, sharing meals, exchanging gifts and spending time with family and friends.
For many communities, Diwali also represents hope, renewal and the beginning of positive things. The lighting of lamps is a symbolic expression of the desire to overcome darkness and embrace goodness, wisdom and prosperity.
In Uganda, the annual Diwali Food Festival has evolved into an important platform for translating these values into practical expressions of friendship, social harmony and cultural exchange.
By opening the celebration to people from different religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, organisers seek to demonstrate how cultural traditions can bring communities together despite their differences.
Paresh Mehta, Chairman of the Indian Association of Uganda, said the festival provides an opportunity for the Indian community to share its heritage and celebrate the values that Diwali represents with the wider Ugandan society.
He emphasised the importance of bringing people together through cultural activities, noting that the celebration is not restricted to members of the Indian community but welcomes everyone interested in experiencing Indian traditions.
Food brings India’s regional diversity to Uganda
One of the major attractions of the festival will be the wide selection of authentic Indian dishes representing the country’s different regions and culinary traditions.
Food stalls will offer visitors an opportunity to sample delicacies from different parts of India, including Punjabi, Gujarati, South Indian and Bengali cuisines.
The variety reflects India’s cultural diversity, with different regions maintaining distinct cooking styles, ingredients, flavours and food traditions.
Sudhir Ruparelia, the host
For visitors, the festival offers an opportunity to experience this diversity without travelling across India, while providing members of the Indian community with a chance to reconnect with familiar dishes associated with their respective regions.
Food also plays an important role in Indian celebrations, where sharing meals is traditionally associated with hospitality, generosity and strengthening relationships.
The festival therefore uses cuisine as a cultural bridge, allowing Ugandans and other international guests to appreciate Indian heritage through familiar and accessible experiences.
Entertainment for the whole family
Apart from the culinary experience, organisers have lined up a programme of entertainment designed to make the festival a family-friendly celebration.
The activities will include live music, DJ performances, regional folk dances, shopping stalls and a dedicated children’s play area.
The performances will provide an opportunity to showcase India’s artistic and cultural traditions, while the shopping stalls will add another dimension to the celebration by giving visitors access to different products and merchandise.
Gates will open at 2:30pm, allowing guests to enjoy the afternoon activities, sample different cuisines and participate in the cultural experiences before the evening celebrations.
A major highlight will be a fireworks display scheduled for 8pm, expected to provide a spectacular conclusion to the day’s festivities. Fireworks will also be available for sale at the venue.
The combination of food, music, dance and family activities is intended to appeal to people of different ages and cultural backgrounds.
Strengthening Uganda-India cultural ties
The annual festival has increasingly become part of Uganda’s cultural and social calendar, providing an opportunity for the Indian community to maintain its heritage while strengthening its relationship with the country in which it has established deep roots.
The Indian community has maintained a longstanding presence in Uganda, contributing to the country’s business, trade and social development. Cultural events such as the Diwali Food Festival provide an additional avenue for building connections beyond commercial and professional relationships.
The involvement of Ugandan guests, diplomats, expatriates and other international visitors also reflects the festival’s broader objective of promoting mutual understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
By inviting everyone to participate regardless of religious or cultural background, organisers are reinforcing the message that celebrations rooted in particular traditions can also become shared experiences for wider society.
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