KAMPALA, UGANDA, April 2026

The Baby & Kids Expo East Africa 2026, organised by Kiara Events and partners, will take place on 16–17 May at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo, Kampala, bringing together families, caregivers and industry players around a shared message: preparation is one of the most powerful forms of care.

Running daily from 9:00 AM with tickets priced at UGX 10,000, this year’s edition is framed under the theme “Care Before Crisis”, a call for parents to shift from reactive to proactive approaches across health, education, nutrition, financial planning and child development.

Joweria Nabuuma, MD Kiara Events Ltd delivers her speech

More than a consumer event, organisers describe the Expo as a growing platform responding to the realities of modern parenting, where access to information is abundant but practical guidance and support often remain fragmented.

Over the years, the Baby & Kids Expo East Africa has grown into a regional meeting point for parents, educators, health professionals and brands focused on early childhood development. The 2026 edition is expected to deliver two days of programming designed to balance learning with engagement, giving families access to expert knowledge while also creating opportunities to interact with products and services in real time.

That balance is reflected in the structure of the event itself. On the entertainment side, activities will include baby races, children’s fashion shows, mascots, bumper cars and dedicated play areas, positioning children not as spectators but central participants in the experience.

Beyond play, the programme also leans into learning and future-readiness. Interactive segments such as spelling bees, robotics showcases and STEM activities are expected to draw interest from both children and parents seeking to support curiosity, confidence and early development.

The organisers have also placed particular emphasis on family wellbeing, with sessions focusing on practical areas such as nutrition, newborn care, first aid and children’s mental health, topics they say are too often addressed only after challenges arise.

To complement that, families will also find space for slower, more hands-on interaction through activities such as painting, pottery and crocheting, while hourly prize giveaways, treasure hunts and interactive games are expected to keep the atmosphere lively across both days.

For the organisers and partners behind the Expo, the event is intended to speak directly to the lived realities of parenting.

“We started this Expo because we saw too many parents showing up in crisis, overwhelmed, underprepared, and carrying the weight of things they couldn’t have known to ask about,” said Joweria Nabuuma, Founder of the Baby & Kids Expo. “Care Before Crisis is not a tagline. It is a promise we are making to every family that walks through those doors. Come informed. Leave empowered.”

That same thinking is echoed by the event’s creative partners, who see the Expo as a platform for behaviour change rather than just awareness.

“The most effective communications don’t change what people know, they change what people do,” said Rhoda Musiima, Founder of Phos Creatives. “When we came on board, we saw an opportunity to tell stories that move parents from awareness to action. This is not about fear, it’s about readiness.”

For retail and family-focused brands, the value of the Expo lies in making support tangible and immediate.

“Parents need more than information; they need to see, touch, and try the things that will genuinely make a difference in their children’s everyday lives,” said a representative from Kids Nook. “This Expo creates that connection.”

The emotional weight of that idea is perhaps best captured by media personality Manuela Mulondo, host of Bump Love, who says many parents are carrying more uncertainty than they admit.

“I’ve had so many conversations with parents who feel like they’re always one step behind. And I understand that feeling, I’ve lived it,” she said. “What this Expo does is meet you in that honest place and remind you that you don’t have to figure this out alone. The best parents aren’t the ones who never worry; they are the ones who showed up before it got serious.”

Set against a backdrop of changing parenting realities across the region, the Expo positions itself as part of a wider cultural shift, one that values early action over late response.

“This May, we are trading panic for preparation,” organisers said in a statement. “Because caring before the crisis is the most powerful thing we can do for our children.”

The Baby & Kids Expo East Africa 2026 will take place on 16–17 May 2026 at UMA Showgrounds, Lugogo, from 9:00 AM daily.

Tickets are priced at UGX 10,000. For more information, media accreditation or interview requests, organisers can be reached on 0702 192 718 or 0775 587 505.