February 14th was nothing short of spectacular for winners of Uganda Tourism Board’s (UTB) inaugural love month campaign dubbed “Love Ewooma and Hometown Vibes Challenges” – a day’s luxurious treatment from beauty makeovers, sumptuous luncheons and cozy dinners.
The ‘Love Ewooma and Hometown Vibes challenge’ was about reminding Ugandans that their culture is worth celebrating, their stories worth telling and their love worth expressing – in the authentic, Ugandan way.
The board assembled an all-star lineup of Uganda’s finest lifestyle brands to curate an unforgettable experience for those who moved the nation with their creative expressions of local love.
The winners were treated to a meticulously planned Valentine’s Day celebration that brought the campaign’s promises to life in the most elegant way possible.
The morning started with hair makeovers offered by Radiant Uganda, the beauty partner for the experience at the New York Unisex Salon in Makindye. Stylists worked their magic as anticipation filled the air.
For some winners, it was a chance to try something bold and new. For others, it was about feeling polished and special. Couples emerged from the salon with fresh styles and even fresher confidence, their smiles widening as cameras from Next Media Uganda captured the before-and-after moments that would become treasured keepsakes.
No Valentine’s Day celebration is complete without the right atmosphere, and the team at NineteenTwentyOne Flowers delivered beyond expectations. Petals in rich colours caught the morning sunlight as winners posed for photographs, blooms held proudly against hearts already swelling from the morning’s pampering.
With hair perfected and flowers in hand, the group of winners proceeded to their next destination: Soleen Foods, where a sumptuous lunch awaited. The restaurant, beloved for its warm hospitality and delicious cuisine, had prepared a special Valentine’s menu that celebrated the essence of the ‘Love Ewooma’ challenge – a purely Ugandan setup and great food shared with loved ones.
Plates arrived steaming and beautifully presented, and conversations flowed as easily as the refreshments. Winners exchanged stories about how they had created their entries, what had inspired their tributes to local dishes and hometowns, and what this recognition meant to them.
Throughout the meal, the team from Next Media Uganda moved discreetly among the tables, cameras rolling, capturing genuine moments of connection. They interviewed winners about their experiences, asking what it felt like to be celebrated after celebrating Uganda and the responses were heartfelt.
For many, this was the first time their creativity had been recognised on such a public platform and for others, it was simply the first time they had ever experienced a Valentine’s Day quite like this.
As afternoon faded toward evening, the group made their way to the prestigious K Hotels in Entebbe. It’s reputation for luxury, impeccable services and elegance preceded it, and the team had prepared something extraordinary for the occasion.
Candles flickered softly, floral arrangements adorned every table transforming the dining space into a romantic haven.
Dinner at K Hotels was an affair to remember. Course after course arrived, each paired beautifully with selections from Bella Wine. Couples toasted to love, to Uganda, to unexpected blessings. They shared laughter. They lingered over dessert. They posed for photographs as Next Media captured the evening’s elegance; the clink of glasses, the shared glances, the satisfied sighs after particularly delicious bites.
Throughout the day, the thread connecting every moment was gratitude. The winners were grateful to the Uganda Tourism Board for conceiving a campaign that celebrated their love the Ugandan way.
UTB commended to the winners for pouring their hearts into creative expressions that inspired others to show love the Ugandan way.