Batalo East, a Ugandan performing arts company specializing in contemporary dance, traditional dance, theatre and cultural storytelling, and the dance group Wakiso Dance Kids have joined hands to produce and perform Kakalabanda. Uganda Travel Guide
Traditionally, Kakalabanda — sometimes called nkalabanda — is a mythical, ghostly or skeletal creature said to roam school dormitories at night to scare children, steal items, or clip students’ hair and nails. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Naguru, Kampala, Albert Mubiuru, the production director at Batalo East, said the production will give young people a feel of what it was like in the past. ,
Scenes from Batalo East’s previous production. He said Kakalabanda was performed in traditional schools back in the day, and that the platform will help young people not forget their roots. “We want to pass this kind of art to the next generation for purposes of sustainability, and this explains why we chose Wakiso Dance Kids,” said Mubiru. Davis Elisha Ssebulime, the head artistic at Batalo East, said the production will uncover what was forgotten.
“There were hidden meaning in those stories. These stories shaped discipline and behaviour among the young people. Kakalabanda was a story during our time. But what are the young people dealing with today? How can we the old generation support the young people today? Through this production, the communities can take action. This way, we will be closing the inter-generational gap using art, music, dance and storytelling.”
Kakalabanda will be produced and performed on September 9, 2026, at the National Theatre, and on September 12, 2026, at the Kavumba Recreation Centre, starting at 8pm. Tickets are Shs 30,000. Choreographer Levy Elaso urged the public to turn up and experience the production, while David Mubiru, the manager of Wakiso Dance Kids, said: “This is going to be exciting.”
