When the sun dips over Kampala, the city doesn’t go to sleep — it wakes up. From the neon-lit streets of Bugolobi and Kabalagala to Kololo’s sleek rooftop bars, the nightlife pulses with Afrobeat, Amapiano, and the ever-vibrant kidandali, keeping revelers moving until dawn.

But beyond the glitz of popular nightspots lies another group of Kampala’s night dwellers often overlooked — the informal sector workers. These are the men and women who spend their days hauling merchandise through downtown, ferrying passengers on boda bodas, or navigating taxis through the city’s traffic. At night, after the day’s hustle, they trade dusty work clothes for sharp outfits, stop by a kiosk for a pocket-friendly drink, and step into Kampala’s nightlife as equal participants in the city’s rhythm.

Their presence is more than cultural. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the services sector — which includes many nighttime activities — contributed 42.4% to the country’s GDP in 2022/23. The night economy, stretching from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, is a key driver of jobs and consumer spending, powered in no small part by these everyday earners.

Recognizing this, some companies are finding ways to give back. Premier Distilleries Limited, makers of coffee-flavored vodka and Simba Gin, have been rewarding their loyal customers through a nationwide promotion dubbed Bikole Masavu, launched as part of the company’s 25-year anniversary celebrations.

For Emmanuel Okello, a barber from Luweero, it was more than just a lucky win. The Bajaj Boxer motorbike he received means his income will stretch further. In Mbale, Joy Namahonje’s family farm has found a new lifeline in the form of a tuk tuk, making it easier to transport produce from the fields to market.

So far, over 400,000 Ugandans have taken part in the promotion, with more than 100,000 winners and prizes worth Shs 200 million already distributed. The campaign runs until November, turning what began as a business strategy into a celebration of ordinary lives across the country.

Much like Kampala’s nightlife itself, promotions like these build more than brand loyalty. They strengthen the sense of community, offering shared joy and new opportunities in spaces where friendships are forged over “just one common drink” that often stretches into sunrise.

Because in Kampala, nightlife is not just about music and drinks. It is culture, resilience, and connection — a reminder that when the city wakes up at night, it belongs to everyone.\

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