Fun with purpose: Toto talent search excites kids, parents

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The Toto Christmas Festival 2025, sponsored by the Ruparelia Group, SumZ, NIRA Uganda, Toyota, Pepsi, and Indomie, has taken a deeper dive into fun fused with purpose. This year, the children will not just have fun for the sake of it, but are harnessing their talents.  

The music, art and dance competition is already heating up the atmosphere at the much-awaited annual Toto Christmas Festival, taking place at the Kampala Parents’ School sports ground in Naguru.

If you have a talent in music, dance or art, this is your moment; you do not want to miss out. The stage is set; children as young as six, are already showcasing their abilities. They are miming songs from their favourite artistes, including Sheebah Kalungi, Gabie Ntate, Streams of Life Choir, Weasel and Nina Roz.

Beyond the prizes, there is plenty of entertainment. The way the children gyrate and move to the beat is a spectacle worth watching. For parents, it is a free, fun and family day out.

If you have never seen your children shine on a grand stage, the Toto Christmas Festival offers the perfect opportunity, and all at a very affordable entrance fee of sh10,000. If you want to participate in the competition, simply fill in a coupon after buying the Weekend Vision at sh2,000.

Benjamin Buhamizo, a professional cartoonist at Vision Group, who is also a judge at the festival, says the children are given uncoloured pictures which they colour according to their imagination of what an object is.

“We are categorising them according to age; two to six is the youngest category.There is also seven to 10, seven to nine, and 10-13 years."

After the exhilarating performances, the winner will walk away with sh5m. Other prizes include sh300,000, sh200,000 and sh100,000 for five additional participants. All contestants will also enjoy treats from SumZ, such as crisps and nuts.