The Ghetto Kids have received recognition in Parliament following their landmark Ghetto Kids World Cup performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth describing the dancers as “Ugandan Ambassadors.”
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Oboth-Oboth praised the Katwe-based group for taking Ugandan talent to an international audience after they performed alongside Shakira and Burna Boy during the World Cup final halftime show.
The performance was staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the Ghetto Kids joined the two international stars for “Dai Dai,” identified as the official tournament anthem.
The appearance marked a major moment for the Ghetto Kids, who became the first act from East Africa to perform during entertainment at a FIFA World Cup final.
Oboth-Oboth said the group’s journey from Katwe to one of the world’s biggest sporting events was a source of pride for Uganda.
“The Ghetto Kids have stood on the ground and made Uganda proud,” Oboth said.
“They have shared the iconic stage with the world, with the latest being at the recently concluded World Cup. Their journey intonates with me, though I am not a ghetto kid.”
The Speaker said the group had effectively represented Uganda despite the country not participating in the World Cup.
“I describe them as Ugandan Ambassadors. When they shine, Uganda shines. Even when Uganda didn’t participate in the World Cup, through the Ghetto Kids, Uganda was represented on that global stage,” he said.
The Ghetto Kids were later given a standing ovation by MPs from across the political divide during their recognition in Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi also praised the dancers, using their story to encourage young Ugandans who face difficult circumstances to continue pursuing their ambitions.
“The hurdles you go through in life cannot deter you in life,” Ssenyonyi said.
“The Ghetto Kids are proof that where you start does not determine where you finish. They turned pain into purpose and struggle into stardom.”
The parliamentary recognition has also brought renewed attention to the wider role of Uganda’s arts and culture sector in creating opportunities for young people.
Oboth-Oboth called on the Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Sports to work with the group to mentor more children.
Ssenyonyi, meanwhile, urged the private sector to invest in arts and culture as avenues for diplomacy, employment and economic opportunity.
The Ghetto Kids’ international profile has been built over several years.
Managed by Dauda Kavuma under the Inspire Ghetto Kids Foundation, the group uses dance to create opportunities for orphaned and vulnerable children, including access to education, exposure and personal development.
Their international breakthrough came in 2017 when they featured in French Montana’s “Unforgettable.”
The song’s music video attracted hundreds of millions of views and introduced the Ugandan dancers to audiences beyond the country.
The Ghetto Kids Uganda group later gained further recognition when they appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023.
Judge Bruno Tonioli awarded them a Golden Buzzer, sending them directly to the live shows, and they subsequently reached the competition’s final.
Their connection with the FIFA World Cup also predates the latest Ghetto Kids FIFA performance.
In 2022, the dancers travelled to Qatar and performed at activities surrounding the FIFA World Cup.
Their latest appearance, however, placed them directly on the entertainment programme of the tournament’s final.
According to the supplied information, Shakira invited the group after being impressed by their viral dance videos inspired by the tournament anthem.
Their participation alongside Shakira and Burna Boy consequently gave the Ghetto Kids Shakira performance a distinctly Ugandan connection, while also placing the group before a global television audience.
For Parliament, the achievement has become an example of what can happen when young Ugandans are given opportunities to develop their creative abilities.
Oboth-Oboth said the group’s success should encourage Uganda to identify and support more young people with talent.
“This is what Uganda is capable of,” he said.
“Let us support our children, because the next ambassador could be coming from any corner of this country.”
The confirmed development following the parliamentary recognition is a call for the Ministry of Gender and Ministry of Sports to work with the Ghetto Kids to mentor more children.
Ssenyonyi has also called for greater private-sector investment in Uganda’s arts and culture sector.
The supplied information does not confirm any specific government programme, funding package or future Ghetto Kids project resulting from those calls.
For now, the Ghetto Kids World Cup performance remains the latest milestone in a journey that has taken the Katwe-based dancers from local beginnings to international platforms, while their recognition in Parliament has placed the spotlight firmly on the wider potential of Ugandan talent.
