By Josephine Kayaga
The 2026 Uganda Film Festival (UFF) has been postponed following government measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.In a public notice released this week, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) announced that all festival activities would be deferred until further notice.
The decision was made in line with directives from the Ministry of Health and the National Taskforce on Ebola Response.The postponement affects the entire festival programme, including film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and the highly anticipated Uganda Film Festival Awards Gala, which had been scheduled to take place on June 5, 2026.According to UCC, the move follows a Ministry of Health circular issued on May 26 restricting mass gatherings in Kampala and surrounding areas as authorities work to contain the outbreak and safeguard public health.
The announcement has disappointed many filmmakers, actors, producers and other stakeholders in Uganda’s creative industry who had been preparing for one of the country’s biggest film events.Over the years, the Uganda Film Festival has grown into a major platform for showcasing local productions, celebrating filmmaking excellence and creating opportunities for networking and professional development within the industry.
Despite the setback, UCC stressed that protecting lives remains the top priority.The commission acknowledged the inconvenience caused to nominees, sponsors, exhibitors and audiences but emphasised that the decision was necessary to support national efforts to control the disease.UCC also revealed that it is working closely with government agencies and industry stakeholders to determine new dates for the festival.
The revised schedule will be announced once authorities consider it safe to hold large public events again.In the meantime, members of the public have been urged to follow health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and remain vigilant as the country continues its response to the Ebola situation.For now, Uganda’s film community will have to put celebrations on hold and wait for the festival’s return under safer conditions.
