On Wednesday, Watoto Church officially launched the 2025 edition of their annual Christmas
Cantata during a media briefing held at Watoto Church Downtown. This marks an exciting new
chapter for the yearly production.
Themed “Son of God,” this year’s Cantata will run from December 19th to 22nd, 2025 at the
Old Kampala Senior Secondary School sports ground, a much larger venue chosen to
accommodate the growing crowds. All shows will start at 8 PM.
For the past 40 years, the free event has been held at Watoto Church Downtown. But as the
number of people attending has increased, the Downtown hall which seats only about 1,200
people has become too small. Many people have missed out on the production in previous
years because of limited space.
For the first time ever, the Cantata will be held outdoors, giving attendees a fresh and exciting
experience. More importantly, the new venue can hold over 50,000 people, allowing many
more to watch and enjoy the show.
The Christmas Cantata is a special annual production that combines music, dance, drama,
audio-visual effects, and popular Christmas songs to share the story of Jesus and God’s love.
This year’s show will feature over 1,000 performers and crew members.
Speaking at the launch, Pastor Edward Mwesigye, the Pastoral Team Leader at Watoto Church,
expressed his excitement about the new venue.
“Christmas is a season of hope, and we want everyone to experience that hope in a meaningful way,” he said. “By moving to Old Kampala Senior Secondary School, we are
opening the doors wider than ever before so that families, young people, and communities across Kampala can come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus.” He added
Pastor Graham Tugume, Pastor for Worship Arts at Watoto Church, also spoke about the creative vision behind this year’s Cantata.
“Our team has poured heart and excellence into bringing the story of Jesus to life in a dynamic, engaging, and unforgettable way. This outdoor experience allows us to stretch our creativity with bigger sets, bigger sound, and a bigger story that will deeply connect with everyone who attends.”
It was also announced that on Wednesday, December 17th, two days before the Cantata, a new event called “The City’s Carols Night” will take place. It will be a large Christmas carols service involving many churches at the same venue. The night will also feature the lighting of what is expected to be Africa’s tallest Christmas tree, which will remain in place throughout the Cantata from December 19th to 22nd.
Unlike previous years, where 17–18 shows were held across 7 days, this time there will be only
four shows, one each night.
The event is powered by Power FM, Next Media, Vision Group, Nation Media Group, and
SafeBoda, which is the transport partner.
For 41 years, Watoto Church has been serving communities through spiritual growth and
practical support. With more than 35,000 attendees across 18 Watoto campuses in Uganda and
South Sudan, the church continues to share God’s love and help transform lives.
