Kampala’s live-music calendar is set for a major East African link-up courtesy of Club Pilsener when Afro Urban: Kigali Meets Kampala takes over MoTIV Bugolobi this Saturday, August 29, 2026, bringing together artists, DJs and creative voices from Uganda and Rwanda for an immersive celebration of contemporary African sound and culture.
Headlined by Rwanda’s Mike Kayihura and Uganda’s Kohen Jaycee, the event will begin at 5:00 PM and unfold within VibeHouse, MoTIV’s warehouse event space. Organised by Afro Urban in collaboration with Sesse Nation and Shorts Na Lessu, the edition has been built around the meeting of two cities with distinct but closely connected creative identities. Tickets are available through Quicket, and the event is strictly for people aged 18 and above.
For audiences familiar with the two headliners, the pairing brings together artists who have built their following through soulful writing, strong live performances and music that sits comfortably across R&B, Afro-soul and contemporary East African influences.
Mike Kayihura has established himself as one of Rwanda’s most versatile contemporary musicians. His work draws from his Rwandan and wider East African roots while moving freely across soul, R&B and other modern influences. His catalogue includes the 2019 album Barely Mixed, the Zuba project and Intwaza, his 2026 comeback release.
Representing Kampala is Kohen Jaycee, one of the distinctive voices within Uganda’s growing alternative R&B and Afro-urban scene. He began his performance journey through poetry, acoustic shows and online covers before developing a catalogue that includes Wena, Heartstrings and his debut album, Rwebembera: Rising Echoes. His music is closely associated with personal storytelling, soulful melodies and carefully constructed live experiences. The event also comes as he prepares audiences for his forthcoming HERITANCE project.
The live-performance program extends beyond the headliners. Mike Mungu brings a moody and melodic sound shaped by R&B, soul, pop, hip-hop and Afro-inspired production. A singer, songwriter and producer, his work is built around expressive vocals and atmospheric arrangements that should complement the night’s more intimate musical moments.
Kyle Simbwa adds an emerging Afro-R&B and Alté-R&B voice to the programme. The Kampala artist blends Afro-pop, Afro-fusion and alternative influences, representing the new generation of performers building audiences outside conventional genre boundaries. Together, Mike Mungu and Kyle Simbwa broaden the evening from a two-artist showcase into a fuller picture of the contemporary sounds developing around Kampala.
Between the live sets, DJ Ames, DJ Kai, DJ Karsten and DJ Kaz will take control of the decks. DJ Ames is among the rising female selectors gaining visibility within Kampala’s nightlife circuit, with sets that have moved through Amapiano, dancehall and other current African sounds. DJ Kai brings a catalogue of mixes spanning Afro-house, Amapiano, hip-hop, R&B and dance-pop, while DJ Karsten and DJ Kaz complete a four-DJ programme designed to maintain the connection between Kigali and Kampala throughout the night.
Guiding the experience will be Rwanda’s Zuba Mutesi, the official host of the evening. A content curator, radio personality, MC and moderator, Mutesi has hosted several music and cultural experiences in Kigali and brings an important Rwandan presence beyond the performances themselves.
Kigali Meets Kampala also marks the return of Afro Urban following its ‘Her Edition’, held at MoTIV in March. Through experiences of this nature, Afro Urban has continued developing a platform that treats music as part of a wider cultural and social experience. Its foundation in Shorts Na Lessu’s fusion of African traditions and contemporary urban culture makes a cross-border edition especially fitting, allowing different sounds, styles and audiences to meet within the same space.
Club Pilsener’s sponsorship strengthens that cultural proposition. The partnership is not an isolated appearance by the brand but a continuation of Club’s long-standing involvement in Uganda’s music and entertainment landscape.
Over the years, Club Pilsener has supported local artist concerts and large-scale music platforms, including Club MegaFest, which brought international performers such as Shaggy, Burna Boy and Patra together with more than 20 Ugandan artists. During the lockdown period, Club Beats At Home kept local performers connected to audiences through online concerts featuring established and emerging Ugandan acts. Club Dome later returned as a campus-focused music platform, extending Club’s relationship with live performance and the communities forming around it.
Club Canvas is also a Club Pilsner property that integrates music, art, fashion and technology within one immersive cultural environment. Its first edition at Muyenga Quarry combined live performances with visual installations, fashion, interactive art, gaming and content-friendly spaces, positioning audiences as participants in the experience rather than passive spectators. Kohen Jaycee was among the performers at that edition, creating a natural connection between Club Canvas and the Afro Urban partnership.
