For years, Uganda’s creative scene has been driven by individual brilliance. Designers, musicians, photographers and filmmakers have often built remarkable careers on their own. But for David Mulolo, better known as Speedball, and artist Joshua Waiswa, popularly known as Josh SB, the future belongs to collaboration.
The two creatives are joining forces for this year’s Speedball Summer, an event that will pair high-fashion streetwear with a live orchestral performance, creating an experience they believe reflects the evolution of Uganda’s creative economy.
Rather than another conventional runway show, audiences will witness garments presented against the backdrop of a live orchestra, an idea both men describe as natural rather than experimental.
“We were tired of the same old fashion runways,” says Mulolo. “We wanted something new, so we decided to spice it up with live orchestra music. It’s all art, so why limit it to only one discipline?”
For Josh SB, whose Bar Symphony concerts have become known for blending classical music with contemporary culture, the collaboration came together almost effortlessly.
“After creating a successful Bar Symphony experience, partnering with Speedball just felt right,” he says. “Their creative energy is as unique and edgy as mine. When we discussed the fashion show, the orchestra idea landed perfectly because it felt unique and disruptive.”
Beyond the spectacle, the partnership represents something much larger: a statement about what young Ugandans can accomplish together.
Mulolo says Speedball was founded to fill a gap in Uganda’s creative ecosystem by proving that ambitious young people can collectively raise industry standards through fashion campaigns, events and original content.
“The gap we’ve been trying to fill is showing what young people can achieve together,” he says. “We’re raising the standard through the projects we create.”
That ambition, however, comes with challenges. Mulolo believes the biggest obstacle isn’t necessarily funding but mindset.
“There aren’t enough hungry people who see what’s at stake,” he says. “What keeps me going is the fear of being average. I know too much not to be doing what I’m doing.”
Josh SB identifies a different hurdle: structure.
“The biggest challenge building creative brands is structure and order,” he explains. “Like any other business, you need systems. The magic lies in my team because they’re committed and operate within a clear structure.”
The conversation around Uganda’s creative industry increasingly extends beyond entertainment into economic development and tourism, something both creatives believe the country is only beginning to appreciate.
Josh argues that experiences are becoming global travel magnets.
“People now travel across continents for festivals, concerts and creative experiences much more often than they do to see wildlife,” he says. “That’s why more economic focus needs to be placed on the events industry and its infrastructure.”
Mulolo agrees, saying events such as Speedball Summer do more than entertain.
“They bring recognition to Uganda and show other young Ugandans what’s possible,” he says. “Whatever dreams you have, they can happen right here.”
While collaboration sits at the heart of this year’s production, both believe partnerships have become essential for the survival and growth of creative businesses.
“Collaboration is the only way to scale,” Josh says. “You tap into everyone’s strengths instead of trying to do everything yourself. Rather than giving 20 percent across everything, you leverage 100 percent of different people’s expertise.”
The same philosophy extends to nurturing future talent.
Mulolo says problem-solving remains the quality he values most when identifying creatives to work with.
“I always tell young people to pay attention to detail, question everything and then either do what’s not being done or do what’s already being done even better.”
Josh adds that discipline often outweighs raw ability.
“Talent alone is never enough,” he says. “It’s only the starting point. I look for people who are willing to go the extra mile and who have discipline and order.”
Both creatives also believe stronger collaboration is needed between government and the private sector if Uganda is to compete internationally.
Mulolo would like to see national creative campaigns bringing together the country’s best talent, while Josh believes institutional systems are the missing ingredient.
“Government and the private sector are willing to support because they’ve seen the commercial value of the industry,” he says. “But no one wants to invest in businesses that lack systems, proper operations and measurable returns.”
The show has also attracted support from Guinness Smooth under its “Make It Your Own” campaign, a partnership both artists say aligns naturally with their creative philosophy.
For Mulolo, the campaign encourages people to own their ideas and surroundings. Josh believes it creates room for young creatives to express themselves authentically while giving ambitious ideas the support needed to become reality.
At the centre of this year’s collection is a simple but powerful message: Made in Uganda.
Ordinarily, the phrase appears quietly on clothing labels as a manufacturing detail. Speedball wants audiences to see it differently.
“This year, ‘Made in Uganda’ is our statement,” Mulolo says.
Josh hopes that statement extends beyond fashion.
“We want people to leave believing Uganda is ready for the world stage, in output quality, collaboration and the ability to produce first-class creative experiences.”
That confidence is already translating into expansion. Following the show, Bar Symphony is scheduled to stage editions in countries including Kenya, Zambia and Mauritius, while Speedball plans to launch creative clinics at universities to mentor the next generation of innovators.
For both creatives, however, international ambitions begin at home.
Their message is not simply that Uganda can produce world-class fashion or orchestral performances, but that when creative disciplines, businesses and brands work together, they can build experiences capable of competing on the global stage.
If Speedball Summer succeeds in its mission, audiences will leave with more than memories of an unconventional runway. They will leave convinced that “Made in Uganda” is no longer just a label sewn into clothing, but an identity confidently taking its place before the world. The event is taking place on Saturday August 1 at Motive in Bugolobi.
