Mediavision Academy Calls for Strategic Alignment to Bolster Uganda’s Film Industry

KAMPALA – As Uganda’s creative sector gears up for a transformative year, stakeholders in the film industry have intensified efforts to bridge the gap between policy dialogue and actionable implementation.

The momentum was palpable at the 2nd Creative Film Industry Discussion, co-hosted by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and the U.S. Embassy in Kampala at the UBFC Auditorium. The session, which followed up on the inaugural roundtable, sought to establish a concrete roadmap for the next 12 months.

The discussion was attended by Film Sector Leaders, officials from government  and the U.S Embassy Kampala. Among the key industry leaders present was Nkambo Robert, Director of Mediavision Academy, who played a noticeable role in the day’s deliberations. Representing one of the nation’s pioneers in film education, Nkambo emphasized the necessity of a unified approach to industry growth.

Addressing the assembly, Nkambo advocated for highly focused interventions to avoid the duplication of efforts among stakeholders, particularly as the sector scales its capacity-building initiatives. He noted that while various actors are eager to contribute to the growth of Ugandan cinema, a lack of coordination often leads to wasted resources.

“For us to build a sustainable industry, we must be intentional and synchronized,” Nkambo stated. “Film schools are the heartbeat of this ecosystem; they need to be given more robust support to effectively execute their function of training and nurturing the next generation of professional storytellers.”

The discussion was anchored by a keynote address from Irene Kulabako, Chairperson of the Steering Committee, who presented findings from a comprehensive study on the current state of Uganda’s cinema landscape. The data-driven presentation highlighted urgent needs, including the streamlining of production frameworks to attract foreign and local investment, and the strengthening of Intellectual Property (IP) protections to ensure creators reap the rewards of their work.

The event, which drew representatives from the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry (UFMI), various industry guilds, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Uganda Registration and Services Bureau (URSB), signaled a growing synergy between government institutions and private-sector practitioners.

As the industry looks toward the coming year, the consensus remains clear: if Uganda is to become a global player in the creative economy, the integration of research, sound policy, and targeted investment—with film schools at the core of the training pipeline—is the only path forward.

Mediavision Academy remains committed to these high-level dialogues, ensuring that the voice of film education remains at the forefront of national policy reform.

Written by Annet Aloyo – Director of studies at Mediavision Academy