Kigezi College Butobere to Host the 3rd Annual Peace Festival

Kigezi College Butobere is preparing to welcome thousands of young people, educators, innovators, and community leaders for the 3rd Annual Peace Festival, scheduled for 18th–19th September 2026 at the school’s iconic campus in Kabale.

Organized by Positive Peace Generation (PPG) in partnership with Interact RYLA Rotary District 9214 and other development partners, the festival returns bigger, bolder, and more impactful under the theme:

Inspire | Innovate | Adopt | Impact

The Annual Peace Festival has rapidly grown into one of Uganda’s most influential youth development platforms, bringing together young people from different schools and communities to learn, collaborate, innovate, and champion positive social change. This year’s edition is expected to attract approximately 3,000 students and youth participants from across Kigezi and the wider Western Uganda region, making Kigezi College Butobere the centre of a powerful movement for peace and youth empowerment.

Building Momentum

Preparations for the festival have been underway for months.

On 25th April 2026, Positive Peace Generation launched a strategic Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme at Kigezi College Butobere as part of the preparations for the September festival.

The programme brought together head teachers and school patrons from 15 secondary schools across the Kigezi Region, creating a network of educators who will guide, mentor, and support young people throughout the festival and beyond.

The training focused on:

Youth protection and safeguarding policies
Counselling and psychosocial support
Youth mobilization and engagement
Project management and evaluation
Safe-space facilitation skills
Support for youth-led innovation
Community response systems
Peace Festival participation guidelines

Beyond mentorship, these educators are expected to serve as community multipliers, strengthening youth support systems in their schools while helping build safer and more responsive communities.

The initiative reflects a deliberate strategy: empower the adults who influence young people so that the impact of the festival continues long after the closing ceremony.

Why the Peace Festival Matters

Young people today face challenges that extend beyond the classroom. Issues such as bullying, substance abuse, gender-based violence, climate change, mental health concerns, unemployment, and social exclusion continue to affect communities across Uganda.

The Annual Peace Festival was established to address these challenges through practical learning, innovation, leadership development, and community engagement.

According to the festival’s mission, the objective is:

To empower and equip young people to innovate bold solutions, adopt practical actions, and drive measurable impact in advancing peace, climate resilience, and social justice within their communities.

Rather than focusing solely on discussions, the festival emphasizes action, encouraging participants to become problem-solvers and changemakers within their schools and communities.

A Perfect Fit for Kigezi College Butobere

For generations, Kigezi College Butobere has stood as one of Uganda’s premier institutions of learning, leadership, and character formation. The school’s commitment to academic excellence has always been accompanied by a strong focus on values, responsibility, service, and leadership. Hosting the 3rd Annual Peace Festival is therefore a natural extension of the institution’s mission.

The event provides an opportunity for students to engage with contemporary issues, interact with peers from across the region, and develop practical skills that prepare them for leadership in the 21st century.

As one of the oldest and most respected schools in Western Uganda, Kigezi College Butobere offers an ideal environment for meaningful dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.

What Participants Should Expect

The festival promises two unforgettable days filled with learning, creativity, inspiration, networking, and fun.

Youth-Led Peacebuilding Mentorship

Participants will engage in structured workshops designed to strengthen:

Leadership skills
Conflict resolution abilities
Problem-solving techniques
Teamwork and collaboration
Community action planning

Interactive role-plays, simulations, and mentorship sessions will allow participants to develop practical approaches to addressing real-world challenges.

Climate Action and Innovation Labs

Young innovators will participate in hands-on environmental and innovation activities focused on creating sustainable solutions for local communities.

The festival aims to leave a tangible environmental legacy through:

Planting 3,000 trees
Supporting youth-led environmental initiatives
Promoting climate resilience awareness
Distributing 20 community dustbins

These activities will empower young people to become active stewards of the environment.

Civic Education, Health and Wellbeing

Interactive sessions will address critical youth issues including:

Mental health awareness
Sexual and reproductive health rights
Gender-based violence prevention
Personal development
Responsible citizenship

Participants will gain access to information, guidance, and support services that promote healthier and safer communities.

Arts, Culture and Creative Expression

Peace can be taught through books, but it can also be experienced through creativity.

The festival will feature:

Music performances
Dance presentations
Drama and theatre
Spoken-word poetry
Visual arts exhibitions
Storytelling sessions

These creative platforms will provide young people with opportunities to express ideas, celebrate diversity, and promote messages of peace and social justice.

Driving Measurable Impact

The organizers have set ambitious goals for this year’s festival.

Expected outcomes include:

Equipping 3,000 youth with practical peacebuilding and leadership skills
Training and supporting school patrons and head teachers as youth mentors
Increasing awareness of health and social services
Supporting youth-led innovations that solve real community problems
Building stronger partnerships between schools, government, civil society, and the private sector
Amplifying youth voices in community development and policy conversations
Delivering meaningful environmental action through tree planting and waste management initiatives.

These goals demonstrate that the festival is not simply an event—it is a catalyst for long-term transformation.

Building on a Proven Legacy

The Annual Peace Festival has grown significantly since its launch.

The inaugural edition in Busia District (2024) attracted more than 3,000 participants, while the second edition in Bushenyi District (2025) welcomed over 4,700 delegates. The success of these events has established the festival as a nationally recognized platform for youth empowerment and peacebuilding.

The initiative has also earned multiple national and international recognitions for its contribution to youth leadership, peacebuilding, and community development.

An Invitation to Every Student

Whether your passion is leadership, innovation, technology, climate action, entrepreneurship, the arts, or community service, the 3rd Annual Peace Festival offers a place for you.

It is a space where ideas become projects.
Where conversations become solutions.
Where friendships become networks.
And where young people discover that they have the power to shape the future.

Event Details

📍 Venue: Kigezi College Butobere, Kabale
📅 Date: 18th – 19th September 2026
🎯 Theme: Inspire | Innovate | Adopt | Impact
💰 Participation Fee: UGX 20,000 per participant (covers meals for two days)

As September approaches, excitement continues to build across the region.

Kigezi College Butobere is ready.

The young people are ready.

The future is waiting.

Join us as we inspire, innovate, adopt solutions, and create lasting impact through the 3rd Annual Peace Festival. ✨🌍🎓

“Peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is the presence of opportunity, innovation, leadership, and hope. This September, Kigezi College Butobere becomes the place where all four come together.”