Kampala’s ‘Grown Folks’ Playground’: Reminisce turns back the clock with daytime disco vibes

March 31, 2026 in by Editor

Kampala revellers turned out in force for the Reminisce Daytime Disco, reliving old-school R&B and kadanke culture in a nostalgic, easygoing celebration powered by FlexiPay.

 

There was something deliberately unhurried about the mood on First Street over the weekend. By mid-afternoon, the industrial stretch had shed its weekday grit for something softer—music, laughter and the unmistakable pull of nostalgia—as the FlexiPay-sponsored March edition of Reminisce Kadanke unfolded.

Billed as the “Daytime Disco Edition,” the event leaned into the simple but powerful idea that memory, when paired with music, can be its own kind of escape. And for hundreds of Kampala’s young professionals and corporate crowd, it was exactly that—a chance to rewind.

Hosted at Club Guvnor, the gathering drew revellers early, some still shaking off the workweek, others already leaning into the promise of an extended evening. The soundtrack—classic R&B and soul—did much of the heavy lifting, threading together eras, moods and shared experiences.

“This is the grown folk’s playground,” said Robert Victor Nsibirwa, co-founder of Reminisce, pausing between greetings and glances across a steadily filling dancefloor. “It’s about creating a space where people can enjoy old-school music, reconnect with friends and just be free.”

The theme this time carried a playful undertone. For many in attendance, the idea of a “kadanke”—those once-forbidden school-party detours—was less about rebellion and more about memory.

“Back then, you’d say you were going for coaching, only to sneak off and dance all afternoon,” Nsibirwa said with a laugh. “Now, you don’t have to lie about it anymore.”

And they didn’t. By 3pm, the dancefloor had already come alive, with DJs including Bryan, Kasbaby, Cisse and Sal Deejay spinning a steady mix of throwback hits that blurred the line between then and now. Hosting duties fell to Timothy Code, who kept the energy buoyant without overwhelming the easy rhythm of the afternoon.

Part of the event’s appeal lies in that balance—it isn’t frantic, nor is it passive. It’s social without being performative, lively without tipping into chaos. Conversations stretch longer. Dance breaks come easier. And for many, the appeal is as much about who you run into as what you hear.

For first-time attendee Lynn Birungi, the experience carried a personal note.

“My parents were very strict about school parties,” she said, smiling as she watched the crowd sway to a familiar tune. “But today, it feels like I’ve made up for all that missed fun.”

There was also a subtle nod to how Kampala’s social scene is evolving. Transactions at the event were tied to FlexiPay, the digital payments platform backed by Stanbic Bank Uganda, streamlining purchases during happy hour and reinforcing a growing shift toward cashless experiences in leisure spaces.

Yet, for all the modern touches, Reminisce’s strength remains rooted in its simplicity. Since its inception in 2021, what began as a niche concept—a curated space for lovers of old-school music—has grown into a fixture on Kampala’s social calendar, now held three times a year and beginning to extend beyond Uganda’s borders.

That growth speaks to something deeper than just entertainment. In a city that rarely slows down, Reminisce offers a pause—an intentional return to familiar sounds and shared histories.

As dusk settled and the music carried on into the night, it was clear that for many, this wasn’t just another event. It was a reminder that sometimes, the best way forward is to look back—if only for an afternoon.