The handprint
Our impact
Over a decade of moving people: on stage, in training and in Uganda’s regions.
Why it matters
Traditional dance is at risk in Uganda. Our work keeps it alive, taught and on stage, side by side with the urban styles young people love.
In numbers
Over a decade of moving people.
11
Festival editions since 2013
1,000+
Young performers on our stages
120
Dancers trained by Kuhamahama
3,500
Audience at the 2023 festival
How change happens
From problem to change
- 01
The challenge
Traditional dances are fading as young people move to towns and follow only urban styles.
- 02
What we do
Festivals, training, documentation and new shows that put traditional and urban dance side by side.
- 03
The change
Young dancers proud of their roots, earning from their art and teaching the next generation.
Where we make a difference
Impact, programme by programme
1,000Batalo Dance Fest
A free festival with over 1,000 young performers from five countries since 2013
See the programme
120Kuhamahama
120 dancers trained in Maracha, Butaleja and Bundibugyo, who now teach others
See the programme
40Batalo East Academy
About 40 dancers certified every year through master classes
See the programme
The Equation
Monthly “Traditional Meets Urban” jams, open to everyone since 2012
See the programme
Creative Center
A home for the youth of Butaleja since 2023
See the programme
Outreach
Dance and hip hop theatre with communities and prisons
See the programmeWhere we work
Across Uganda
From Kampala to the regions — and on our festival stage, performers from five countries.
7districts and cities reached
- Kampala
- Butaleja
- Mbale
- Jinja
- Maracha
- Bundibugyo
- Kaberamaido
Documentation
Book & music EPKeeping dances
from disappearing
Kuhamahama documents clans and traditional dances and researches the instruments and props used in them.
This work produced the Kuhamahama book and a music EP, launched at the 2025 festival.
Thank you
None of this happens alone
Our partners and friends make festivals, classes and new work possible for young dancers in Uganda.
- Urban Market
- Soul Expressions
- Tabu Flo Dance Co
- Your Partner
- Your Sponsor
Stories
Stories of change
Support Batalo East
Help us keep traditional dance alive and give young Ugandan dancers a future in the arts.