Coca-Cola has recognised and rewarded 26 university students for their creativity and digital storytelling skills following their participation in the Essawa Yona Kisoboka Content Creation Challenge.
The winners were celebrated on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Makerere University’s Impis Rugby Grounds during the Coca-Cola-sponsored Makerere Freshers’ Ball, an event that attracted thousands of students and featured performances from Ugandan entertainers, including Winnie Nwagi, Ykee Benda and Nina Rose.
The content creation challenge was designed to encourage young people to produce original digital content inspired by their everyday experiences, particularly EPL matchdays, food moments and their interactions with Coca-Cola.
For the participating students, the initiative provided an opportunity to showcase their creativity, reach wider audiences and compete for cash rewards.
Kalema Benjamin, popularly known as Zoom Media, from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), said the challenge pushed participants to develop original ideas and distinguish themselves through creative storytelling.
“It’s really fun and exciting because you have to be creative and unique from the rest of your friends,” he said.
Another winner, Timothy Eniau, known as MUBS Bee, said he initially joined the competition for the experience but was pleasantly surprised to emerge among the winners.
“I came for the vibe, embraced the challenge and walked away with a win,” he said.
The competition attracted entries from students across several institutions, including Makerere University, Kampala International University (KIU) and Kyambogo University, highlighting the growing interest in digital content creation among young people.
Britney Melisa from KIU expressed appreciation for the opportunity, saying she hoped to collaborate with Coca-Cola on future campaigns. Nakityo Deborah from Kyambogo University, meanwhile, said the recognition had motivated her to further develop her creative abilities.
According to Coca-Cola, the initiative forms part of the brand’s broader efforts to engage young consumers through experiences that reflect their interests, passions and lifestyles.
Under the Essawa Yona Kisoboka campaign, participants are encouraged to create and share original content inspired by football, food, music, fashion, dance and entertainment. The initiative seeks to provide young people with a platform to express themselves while gaining recognition and competing for rewards.
Barry Otieno, Senior Marketing Manager for Coca-Cola in Uganda, congratulated the winners and urged them to remain consistent, innovative and committed to improving their content creation skills.
He also encouraged participants to take advantage of the opportunities available through the campaign, including the November rewards.
The challenge is open to eligible Ugandan residents aged 18 and above. Participants are required to create original content, publish it on Instagram or TikTok using the official campaign hashtag and tag Coca-Cola Uganda.
Winners are selected based on validated leaderboard rankings, with entries subjected to moderation to identify fraudulent engagement and maintain fairness throughout the competition.
As social media continues to reshape how young people communicate, entertain and build personal brands, initiatives such as Essawa Yona Kisoboka are creating opportunities for emerging creators to turn their interests and digital skills into meaningful recognition.
For the 26 students recognised at Makerere, the rewards represent more than a competition victory; they offer encouragement to pursue creative opportunities and explore the growing possibilities within Uganda’s digital content industry.
