Kampala International University (KIU) recently hosted a week-long high school art exhibition under the theme Creative Evolution, bringing together over 120 secondary schools from across Uganda for an immersive experience in artistic exploration, skill development, and creative inspiration.

Held from Monday, 9th to Saturday, 14th June 2025, at the 6th Floor of the Idd Basajjabalaba Memorial Library, the event was organised by Art Secrets Revealed and aimed to nurture young artists through hands-on activities and provide career guidance in the visual arts field.

Kibazo Hashib, head of the Art Secrets Revealed team, noted that, “Our goal is to help students improve their skills through hands-on activities, give them career guidance, and inspire them.”

This year’s participants included students from King’s College Buddo, Mt St. Mary’s, College, Namagunga, Kakungulu Memorial, Madina Islamic, Elite High School Entebbe, Mbogo Mixed School, Emma High, Buddo Secondary School, St. Noah Girls, Prince Joseph Academy Namagunga, and many more.

The week-long activities featured painting, weaving, fabric decoration, graphic design, figure drawing, jewelry making, and pottery, providing a rich, hands-on experience for the young artists.

The vibrant and welcoming atmosphere at KIU left a lasting impression on many students.

“This is my first visit, and honestly, it’s more than just a university—it feels like a creative community. That’s exactly what I’m looking for after high school,” said Namata Brina from Buddo Secondary School.

“I’m really impressed by how vibrant and creative the atmosphere feels, especially during the exhibition,” added Yiga Ashraf from Elite High School Entebbe.

Emrace Bukolo, one of the visiting students, expressed her admiration: “I’m honestly amazed! The campus is really big and beautiful, and everyone is so welcoming.”

Ryhan Hills from Buddo SS echoed similar sentiments: “It’s my first time, and I’m really impressed by how professional the whole place looks. I can already picture myself studying here in the near future.”

Fatuma Namukasa from Prince Joseph Academy, Namagunga shared: “I’m happy that I met different students and grateful for the warm reception from both KIU students and staff.”

The Art Secrets Revealed exhibition continues to play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of artists and positioning KIU as a supportive hub for talent and creativity.

Mr. Kibazo applauded the management of Kampala International University for their unwavering support and consistent commitment to the development of young artistic talent in Uganda.

“By providing us with such a spacious, interactive, and welcoming environment year after year, KIU has enabled us to fully express our creative ideas and engage meaningfully with students. This partnership has not only strengthened our vision but has also given hundreds of learners across the country a platform to grow, explore their artistic potential, and begin to dream big. This marks eight solid years of continuous collaboration, and we are truly grateful for the university’s openness and dedication to nurturing the creative arts,” Kibazo remarked.