If you have been on social media, once in a while, you have seen a post of a person asking for a venue with a band performing. Over the years, live band performances were rare occurrences; some people waited for Afrigo Band’s nights at Club Obligatto, then as years went, bands such as Qwela, Kads Band and K’Angie Band showed up and had monthly and at times weekly nights.
Then Tusker Malt Band Nights were born, heavily associated with high energy live performances featuring session bands, from renowned ones to up and coming ones.
On Tuesday afternoon at the Uganda Breweries Limited offices in Luzira, the promise of such nights was uncorked. Tusker Malt Lager officially announced the return of the Tusker Malt Band Nights, a curated live music experience designed to celebrate Uganda’s deep-rooted love affair with band music. In the same breath, the brand unveiled the spirited and fast-rising Abeeka Band as the official ambassadors of the campaign.
If you have stepped into a hotel lounge on a Friday, lingered in a city bar on a Saturday, or wandered into a neighbourhood hangout where the drums are louder than the traffic outside, then you understand this truth: Uganda does not just listen to live music, it gathers around it.
Sandra Againe, the Brand Manager of Tusker Malt Lager described the partnership as a natural alignment of rhythm and refinement.
“Today marks an exciting moment for Tusker Malt Lager as we officially announce our partnership with Abeeka Band as ambassadors of the Tusker Malt Lager Band Nights campaign,” she said.
She spoke of a country where live bands are not a novelty but a tradition, where bar stools fill faster and drinks are savoured on nights when a bass guitar hums through the room. Data, she noted, consistently shows that outlets experience higher traffic when live bands perform. But beyond the numbers lies something more valuable: connection.
“Live music creates energy, connection, and shared moments, exactly the kind of atmosphere Tusker Malt Lager stands for,” she said.
Band Nights, she explained, is about leaning into what Ugandans already love and elevating it. Not manufacturing culture, but amplifying it.
And in Abeeka, the brand believes it has found the perfect torchbearers as the band represents a new wave of live performers, dynamic, versatile, and in tune with the modern audience, yet respectful of Uganda’s musical roots. Their stage presence is electric. Their repertoire fluid. Their following growing.
“They embody excellence, authenticity, and creativity, qualities we value as a brand,” she added.
For Tusker Malt, this is not a flirtation with music. It is a relationship long in the making. Through platforms like Tusker Malt Conversessions, the brand has created intimate spaces where artistry and storytelling meet. Its past collaborations with legendary outfits such as Afrigo Band and celebrated artists like Cindy Sanyu signal a sustained commitment to Uganda’s soundscape.
“We don’t just sponsor music, we invest in its growth and sustainability,” Elizabeth Mutamuliza, the Head of Beer emphasized.
The Tusker Malt Band Nights will partner with different entertainment outlets across the country to amplify the nights.
As the afternoon wound down in Luzira, what lingered was not just the announcement of a partnership, but the promise of a movement, one that blends premium malt with premium music.
“Tusker Malt Lager has always stood for craft, character, and connection. With Abeeka Band leading the way, Band Nights will not just be events, they will be moments that celebrate Uganda’s sound, soul, and shared experiences,” Mutamuliza said.
