From Passion to Profit: Uganda’s Creative Sector Reclaims its Crown with UGX 28 Billion Boost
The atmosphere was electric as Daniel Kazibwe (Ragga Dee), Chairperson of the NCF, delivered the news the industry has been waiting for: the Government of Uganda has allocated a staggering UGX 28 billion to boost and support the work of artists across the country.
Daniel Kazibwe addressing the attendees
The NCF: The Apex Shield of Ugandan Culture
At the heart of this revolution is the National Culture Forum (NCF). Established as the private sector-led apex body for all associations in the Culture and Creative Industries (CCI), the NCF’s mandate is clear: to be the voice of the visionary. Registered as a non-profit and supported by the National Culture Policy of 2006, the NCF serves as the bridge between civil society, the private sector, and the government. Since its rejuvenation in 2019, it has stood as the guardian of Uganda’s “Orange Economy,” ensuring that the arts are not just a hobby, but a sustainable pillar of national development.
“Content Means Real Business”
The launch, organized in partnership with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), targets the “silent thief” of the industry: copyright infringement.
“The biggest problem in Uganda is the perception of content,” noted Daniel Kazibwe. He lamented how television channels and distributors often expect movies and art for free—or worse, charge artists to air their own work. “Content created by artists has to provide them revenue. Content means real business.”
Mediavision Academy: Securing the Future of Filmmakers
Nkambo Robert (3rd from the right) in a photo moment with Peter Eriki, Daniel Kazibwe and Daniel Meboya.
Among the industry leaders present was Robert Nkambo, Director of Mediavision Academy (MVA). For over a decade, MVA has been at the forefront of vocational training in filmmaking and photography. For Nkambo, this campaign is the answer to the prayers of his students.
“Since 2014, our students have worried about their future after graduation,” Nkambo shared. “Now, they know their work will be protected. This initiative is timely—it creates the ‘noise’ we need about copyright, especially in film, ensuring producers and creators finally make money from their craft.”
Nkambo urged all creators to register their works with both the URSB and the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry (UFMI) to build a legal fortress around their intellectual property.
A Unified Front for the “Orange Economy”
The fashion world, too, is waking up. Nsubuga Ronnie, Founder of the Pearl of Africa Fashion Alliance (PAFA), highlighted a major loophole: “Fashion designers create daily but fail to register their sketches and brands, opening a boulevard for losing money.”
From the comedy stages to the tailoring shops, the sentiment was one of victory. Bujjingo Hannington of the Uganda Comedians Association noted, “Now the Government is listening. Let’s all be the Ambassadors of our own success.”
Panelists on the Shared Responsibility session discussion
The event featured a powerful panel discussion on “Shared Responsibility” and heart-wrenching “Real Experiences with Piracy,” reminding the audience that every pirated film or duplicated design is a blow to a Ugandan family’s livelihood. The day concluded with a vibrant Call to Action, punctuated by performances from Kalifah Aganaga and visual art displays.
The Dawn of the Protected Creator
The “Respect Creators’ Rights” campaign is more than a legal push; it is a cultural shift. With the government’s 28 billion shilling commitment and the NCF’s strategic leadership, the message to the public is loud and clear: Art is labor, and labor deserves its wage. For the students at Mediavision Academy and the veterans at the National Theatre, the boulevard of loss is closing, and the highway to profit is finally open.
Written by Daniel Massamba Meboya – A strategic Communications Specialist
