When the gong in the “RIP” sound effect rang out, everyone knew another bottle of Don Julio 1942 had been lifted off the shelf and was making its grand entrance to a reveler ready to celebrate in style with premium tequila.
On Friday night, Nomad Bar & Lounge, in partnership with global luxury tequila brand Don Julio, treated Kampala partygoers to Season Two of “A Night in Mexico,” a Mexican-themed experience inspired by Cancun nightlife.
Guests embraced the theme in wide-rimmed sombrero-inspired hats, leather pants, checkered shirts, mini dresses, boots and short shorts. Others took turns posing at the Don Julio backdrop, capturing moments on their phones in an atmosphere that felt curated for memories.
The night’s entertainment featured mixes from DJs Litto, Ashley and Nomad’s resident DJs, before South African entertainer DJ Kace, also known as The African Mzungu, took over as the headline act.
Speaking before his performance, Kace said he was excited to once again perform for Ugandan audiences.\“This is going to be my third or fourth time in Uganda, and I always love the energy the Ugandan people have. Shout out to Don Julio and Nomad for the opportunity to serve Ugandans with dope sound,” he said.
Don Julio 1942 remained the centrepiece of the night, with every bottle delivered in dramatic fashion. Accompanied by mascots and carried shoulder-high through the crowd to the now-famous “RIP” or “Ameno” sound effects, each order became a spectacle that drew cheers and phone cameras from across the venue.
Partygoers, especially the self-styled “Omugaga ffe aba mulina” crowd, eagerly documented each bottle presentation for social media.
Judie Nandekya, Senior Brand Manager Tequila and Rum East Africa, said the continued partnership with Nomad reflects the success of the first edition.
“As Don Julio, we always partner with spots that elevate our consumers’ premium fun experiences. Nomad coming up with season 2 of ‘A Night in Mexico’ is proof that our consumers liked the Mexico experience we gave them at first. We promise more elevated and curated experiences like these,” she said.
One reveler, impressed by the bottle service and atmosphere, described the event as unique.
“‘A Night in Mexico’ is a whole different experience, this is spectacular,” she said.
At around 3am, DJ Kace stepped onto the decks and immediately ignited the crowd with Jose Chameleone’s classic “Mama Mia,” prompting a loud singalong from revelers.
He later blended Afro-house and Amapiano sounds into a seamless set that kept the crowd dancing into the early hours of Saturday morning.
By the end of the night, sombrero hats had been tossed aside, boots had endured hours on the dancefloor, and guests left with memories from what many described as one of Kampala’s standout nightlife experiences.
