Mount Kenya University Drama Team Thrills East Africans in Kampala

Mount Kenya University (MKU) drama students captivated audiences at the East Africa Music, Dance and Drama Festival (MDD), held in Kampala, Uganda, from 18th to 24th August 2025.

The team staged a variety of performances including solo dance, stand-up comedy, spoken word, mime, narrative, solo verse, and live broadcast — all earning admiration from fellow participants and audiences.

The students were especially elated to showcase their talent at a regional stage, only months after dominating the Kenya National Drama Festival where MKU was crowned Best Overall University and Most Prolific University.

Drama group leader Henry Jomo, who returned to the festival after first participating in 2024 as a high school student from Fesbeth Academy, described the experience as transformative:
“This is the epicenter of creative arts in East Africa. The festival gives us a chance to learn from our regional peers, and we’ve witnessed some of the best performances — especially in dance.”

MKU Sports, Film and Creative Arts Coordinator, Mr. William Luta, praised the organizers and host country for a seamless event:
“The standards have gone higher this year. We’ve seen rich cultural presentations that prove creative arts can contribute meaningfully to our regional growth. For our students, performing here adds immense value to their journey as thespians.”

The festival opened with Uganda’s Minister of Education, H.E. Mrs. Janet Museveni, and Kenya’s Director General in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Hassan Abdi, who pledged to strengthen Kenya–Uganda collaboration in education and the creative arts.

MKU made history in 2023 as the first Kenyan university invited to the East African Music and Drama Championships, and their return in 2025 reaffirms their place as regional trailblazers.

This year’s festival was hosted at King’s College Budo, Budo Senior School, and Trinity College Nabbingo, bringing together top performers from across East Africa.

Other Kenyan institutions that stood out included:

• Music: Alliance High School, Ngenia High School, Friends School Senende, Karen C, Dakabaricha High School, Sosit Girls, Muthetheni Girls, Mandera High School, Narok High School, and Alupe University.

• Drama: Alliance Girls High School, Fesbeth Academy, Moi High School Mbiruri, Laiser Hill Academy, Moi Girls Isinya, Sega Girls, Ramba High School, and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.

With such stellar performances, Mount Kenya University continues to cement its position as a hub for talent, creativity, and cultural exchange in the region.