Santa Anzo

Santa Anzo (born c. 1975) is a Ugandan fashion designer and entrepreneur. She is the founder and lead designer of ARAPAPA Fashion House and Design Studio and the founder and president of Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW), an annual fashion expo held in Kampala that brings together designers, models, textile producers, and investors in the fashion industry.

Background and education Anzo was born in Kampala, Uganda around 1975. Her family traces its origins to Moyo District in the West Nile sub-region of northern Uganda. According to some accounts, her family went into exile in South Sudan following the fall of Idi Amin's government in 1979 and later returned to Uganda in 1982.

She was homeschooled in exile by her mother Chezira Iku Dolo before returning to Uganda for formal education. She attended Old Kampala Primary School and later Bat Valley Primary School where she completed her primary education. She pursued O-level studies at Madhvani College in Wairaka, Jinja District, and A-level studies at Progressive Secondary School in Bweyogerere, Wakiso District.

Through her work, Anzo has collaborated with corporate and development partners on initiatives promoting fashion entrepreneurship and youth mentorship in Uganda.

Uganda International Fashion Week In 2003, Anzo founded Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW), an annual fashion event aimed at creating a platform for African designers, models, and fashion entrepreneurs.

International showcases Anzo has presented her fashion collections at several international fashion events and showcases including the Africa Fashion Exchange in Durban, South Africa.

She has also showcased at events including Swahili Fashion Week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Mozambique Fashion Week, and other regional fashion exhibitions.

Recognition and awards 2006 – Presidential Transformers Appreciation Award, Kampala. 2012 – Second place, East African Designer of the Year, Swahili Fashion Week. 2015 – Lifetime Fashion Icon Achievement Award. 2016 – Pioneer Ground Breaking Award from the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association in partnership with the International Labour Organization. 2018 – Keynote speaker at the Fashionpreneur Summit hosted by the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (ASFAs) in Kampala. 2021 – Keynote speaker at the Intra-African Trade Fair organised by Afreximbank.