“People Were Curious”: Underground Kampala Is Creating A Techno Culture In Uganda

In a country where there is little techno, Underground Kampala creates a paradise for diehard fans. By organizing monthly pop-up raves at secret locations in the countryside and other nooks and crannies of Uganda, the party gradually built a movement.

“We created it to create a space for communication and positive interaction, where participants immerse themselves in a free zone without social pressure,” explains founder Richard O'Doy.

“For us, that means no sexual harassment, no homophobia, no bullying, no racism, no expectations, just an understanding for self-expression.”

After Richard's friends gave him an unexpected illegal birthday present, a party platform that was gradually established in late 2020 brought Ugandan techno producers and DJs together and connected them to international DJs. Managed by Richard and a team of other DJs, sound designers, lighting designers and producers who share a passion for electronic music.

Both the party and the collective behind it were built on a love of techno and underground values. "Kampala is a bit difficult for the creators, especially in scenes like this, where some people might want to go to an event because it's popular, or worry about the number of people and forget about the music itself."

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But Underground Kampala wants to move away from a commercial approach, adopting a do-it-yourself approach and focusing on the needs of its community. Throw parties in abandoned buildings, parking lots, lakesides, and other places away from the city's main hospitality sector to provide a safe and private place for dancers to experience new music and network. The party does not want to be the guardian of the genre, but to ensure that this space is free from the views and stigmatization of society.

Now the party is ready for a new stage. The group collaborates with international techno artists and DJs and aims to create a permanent space that will become a second home for their community. They are currently raising money to renovate their facility.

“Having pop-up raves in different locations can be fun, but also challenging. We have to think about logistics, because sometimes it is difficult to transport this amount of equipment and keep it safe. So now we need a permanent place for techno in Kampala.”

We met with founder Richard O'Doey, who told us about the party, how the motorcycle seats were chosen, the stigma associated with raves in Uganda, and the international friendship associated with safari.