Bell Lager will serve as lead premium sponsor of Koffi Olomide’s concert in Gulu on October 9, placing the beer brand at the center of a major Independence Day weekend event. Open Mic Uganda is organising the concert at the Northern Pearl Hotel Garden along Gulu-Kitgum Road.
The concert forms part of Obafest, Bell Lager’s beer festival platform for music, food and entertainment. The sponsorship ties the brand to the concert and its programme of Ugandan performers. No sponsorship amount or ticket prices were provided.
The Brand Behind the Festival
Lilian Kansiime, Brand Manager for Bell Lager, described the sponsorship as part of the brand’s support for music and cultural events around the country. “As Uganda's very own beer, Bell Lager celebrates culture, social connection and the arts. Bell Obafest is a celebration of how Ugandans come together to enjoy music, beer and food,” she said.
Kansiime said the event would give audiences in Northern Uganda a chance to join the festival. “By bringing the experience to Gulu in partnership with the Koffi Olomide concert, we are giving consumers in Gulu an opportunity to be part of that celebration,” she said. Her remarks identify consumers as the audience for the branded event.
Bell Lager also presented the partnership as a premium music experience. “The partnership for the Koffi Olomide concert in Gulu reflects our commitment to bringing premium music experiences to consumers. We are proud to support Open Mic Uganda in delivering an international performance of this scale alongside the Ugandan artists who will share the stage,” Kansiime said.
Artists and Audience
Olomide will headline a programme featuring Ugandan performers. The Congolese singer is regarded as a prominent figure in rumba and soukous, and his catalogue includes “Loi,” “Effrakata,” “Papa Bonheur,” “Tcha Tcho” and “Selfie.” Organisers said audiences could watch him perform some of his best-known songs with musicians and dancers.
Dancehall singer Cindy, Eezzy, Batman, Jelly G and Lucky David are also scheduled to perform. Comedian Patrick Salvado will host. The lineup pairs the international headliner with Ugandan artists, while Bell Lager’s festival platform gives the event its commercial identity.
The concert is scheduled for the Independence Day holiday weekend and is expected to draw people from Gulu and neighbouring districts, as well as visitors travelling to Northern Uganda for the holiday. Gates open at 2 p.m. Friday, and the programme is set to continue until 4 a.m. Saturday, October 10.
A Festival Outside Kampala
The Gulu concert is one of a growing number of major music events staged outside Kampala, giving audiences elsewhere in the country access to international and local performers. Bell Lager is the lead premium sponsor, and Open Mic Uganda is the organiser; the article identifies no government agency or public funding role in the event.
The sponsorship connects the beer brand with live music, food and a holiday gathering in Northern Uganda. Bell Lager will have a prominent place in the event’s presentation, while the programme features Olomide and six named Ugandan performers. The source gives no financial breakdown of the sponsorship or details on how concert proceeds will be distributed.