Dr. Viola Karungi’s Vision for Bridging the Gap in Film Education in Uganda

Kampala, Uganda – Written by Nkambo Robert – On Saturday 16th August 2025, Mr Nkambo Robert the director of Mediavision Academy hosted Dr. Viola Karungi, a distinguished lecturer of film criticism at Makerere University’s Department of Performing Arts and Film. Her visit was primarily to supervise Maureen Nakisege, a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Film student from Makerere, who recently concluded a two-month internship at the academy, but quickly evolved into a discussion about fostering deeper ties between the two institutions.

Maureen Nakisege’s internship at Mediavision Academy is part of the academy’s initiative to provide practical learning opportunities for film and media students from various academic institutions. This arrangement allows students to gain invaluable real-world experience, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry practice.

During her visit, Dr. Karungi, who is also a certified life coach, engaged in extensive discussions with Mr. Nkambo Robert, the director of Mediavision Academy. The conversation transcended from mere internship placements, to exploring avenues for creating “bigger learning platforms” for film students at both Mediavision and Makerere.

A key area highlighted by Dr. Karungi was the potential for an exchange of training experts. This would facilitate co-teaching arrangements and guest lectures, allowing students from both institutions to benefit from diverse perspectives and specialized knowledge.   The discussions also touched fostering critical discourse within the Ugandan film industry. “We can even organize sessions like engagements to talk about what is film, in the Ugandan context,” Dr. Karungi proposed, recognizing the unique realities faced by local filmmakers, who often operate with vastly different budgets and resources compared to international productions. She stressed the importance of these conversations to prepare students for the resilience needed in the Ugandan film landscape.

Nkambo Robert expressed strong receptiveness to the proposed collaboration, indicating a shared vision for elevating film education standards in Uganda. “The potential partnership promises to bridge the theory-practice gap, providing aspiring filmmakers with the comprehensive skills and exposure necessary to thrive in the dynamic media landscape,” Nkambo affirmed.

Dr. Karungi expressed strong confidence in Mediavision Academy’s team, noting the remarkable growth observed in Maureen Nakisege during her internship. “Maureen was saying, ‘Madam, me, I can tell you.’ She knows what she’s talking about,” Dr. Karungi shared, highlighting the thorough training provided. She also acknowledged the presence of Makerere alumni, like Adnan Ssenkumba, who specializes in sound and works at Mediavision, seeing this as a great motivator for current students.

Following the discussions, Dr. Karungi took a comprehensive tour of the state-of-the-art facilities available at Mediavision Academy, gaining firsthand insight into the resources and environment available for practical training.

This proactive engagement signals a promising future for film and media education in Uganda, with the potential for enhanced collaboration between academic institutions and industry-leading academies to provide a holistic and practical learning experience for the next generation of filmmakers.