The mighty show that was
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I What the enemy has meant for bad, God has turned into good for singer King Saha, whose Tondeka Ekololo Festival on Friday night transformed the Kololo Independence Grounds into a sea of cheering fans.
Hundreds of Kampalans, joined by music lovers from different parts of the country, turned up in large numbers for the August 14 concert, filling substantial sections of the expansive grounds and creating one of the biggest crowds witnessed at the venue in recent months.
The massive turnout capped a dramatic week for the Kings Love Empire singer, whose concert was thrown into uncertainty after he was briefly detained by security operatives during promotional activities.
From the afternoon, fans began streaming into Kololo as supporting artistes took turns entertaining the gathering. By the time the main show gathered momentum, the grounds were tightly packed, with videos and pictures showing crowds stretching across the airstrip.
Fans turned away
Some fans reportedly remained at the gates deep into the evening as the venue filled up, although there were also reports of some people being turned away.
There was no official attendance figure available by Saturday, making it difficult to establish whether Saha’s concert surpassed other recent major shows held at Kololo. Nevertheless, the turnout was enough to spark comparisons with Ray G’s August 7 concert, which also attracted a huge audience.
King Saha on stage
When Saha finally stepped onto the stage, the response was deafening, with fans breaking into loud cheers, chants and sing-alongs.
The singer delivered energetic performances of some of his biggest hits, including Pretty Pretty and Signal, keeping the audience on its feet and singing along throughout the night.
Pastor Wilson Bugembe was among the prominent guest performers who added to the excitement of the festival, while other supporting acts helped maintain the momentum before and during Saha’s performance. The success of the concert was particularly significant because it came only three days after Saha’s brief detention on August 11.
The martyr mentality
Armed security personnel reportedly took him from Kyanja following an incident involving members of his team. Some members of the team were injured in the confrontation and later received treatment at Mulago Hospital. Saha was subsequently taken to Jinja Road Police Station and later released. He also visited some of the injured members of his team. The unfortunate incident turned him into a martyr of sorts.
The incident triggered public concern about whether the controversy would affect his concert. Instead, mobilisation continued, with several public and political figures rallying support for the event.
Kyagulanyi spoke to people’s hearts
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was among those who publicly encouraged fans to support Saha. By Friday night, the tension and controversy of the previous days had been replaced by celebration as Saha took command of the Kololo stage.
The concert has also reignited the debate over which Ugandan artiste can attract the biggest audience at Kololo. Ray G’s show a week earlier had set a high benchmark, while other leading musicians, including Eddy Kenzo, have previously drawn substantial crowds to the venue.
Although verified attendance figures are still unavailable, Saha’s Tondeka Ekololo Festival clearly established itself as one of the standout Ugandan music events of 2026—and a major career moment for the singer.
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