Zari Hassan marked her 46th birthday in characteristic style, bringing together music, fashion, luxury and Kampala’s social crowd for an evening of celebration at Kampala Marriott Hotel.
Held on September 25, the birthday gathering attracted friends, entertainers, public figures, media personalities and creatives, turning the hotel into a meeting point for some of the city’s familiar faces from the entertainment and lifestyle scene.
The evening was as much about the atmosphere as it was about the birthday girl. Guests enjoyed food, music and conversation before raising a toast, with Perlino providing cocktails for the occasion.
For the Italian drinks brand, the celebration offered a natural fit with its longstanding association with sparkling wines, vermouth and the aperitif culture.
Perlino traces its history to 1905, when Giuseppe Perlino began trading in Asti wines in Italy. The company later moved into the production of sparkling wines and vermouth in the 1930s. Its range today includes Prosecco DOC, Prosecco Rosé, Asti Dolce, Moscato Spumante and vermouth.
Speaking at the celebration, Perlino franchise owner Ivan Byamugisha said the brand is keen to work with Uganda’s lifestyle and entertainment industry, signalling an interest in becoming part of the country’s growing events and social scene.
But the drinks were only one element of a night built around spectacle.
Guests were welcomed by a display of luxury cars, while MC Kats kept the evening moving as performers took turns entertaining the crowd. Jose Chameleone, Karo, Kasita and Elijah Kitaka provided the musical soundtrack, giving the celebration a distinctly Ugandan entertainment flavour.
Captain Michael Mukula was among the notable guests.
The fashion, unsurprisingly, also attracted attention. Zari appeared in looks created by Naysa Bespoke by Lillian Kyabaki and Dyna Vence, while Summy Touch handled her makeup and Sean Mbajja styled her hair.
The décor and event styling were handled by Essie Events, with Pastry Quin responsible for the birthday cake.
Behind the celebration was Zari’s manager, Larry Casual, the Ugandan fashion designer who helped bring together the different elements of the evening.
Kampala Marriott provided the setting, adding its hospitality, dining and accommodation experience to an event designed around elegance and entertainment.
Meanwhile, media personalities, bloggers and TikTok creators documented moments from the night, ensuring that the celebration extended beyond the hotel through social media.
For Zari, the evening was another chapter in a public life that has long intersected with Uganda’s entertainment, fashion and lifestyle industries.
At 46, she celebrated not simply with a birthday party, but with a gathering that reflected the world she has built around herself — one where music, fashion, business, hospitality and celebrity often meet over a glass raised in celebration.
