Mzee Bwanika
Uganda’s creative sector has never lacked talent. What it has lacked is coordinated leadership that understands the difference between creating art and building an industry.
Today, I believe we may be at a unique turning point.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the mother ministry for culture and the creative industries, is now led by Gen. Henry Tumukunde, a leader widely known for strategic thinking, negotiation and institution building. Reports from his first weeks suggest he is taking time to understand the sector before acting.
At the same time, the Ministry of Trade is under Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, whose focus is economic transformation and domestic production, while Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba continues to champion efficiency, accountability and service delivery within public institutions.
For Uganda’s creative sector, this combination presents an opportunity that should not be ignored.
Government alone cannot build our industry.
One misconception has held us back for years: production is not the industry.
A film becomes an industry when people legally pay to watch it.
A song becomes an industry when it reaches functioning markets.
Without markets, intellectual property has little economic value.
This is why I continue to ask:
“Why are Ugandan films, music, fashion and other creative products still largely absent from the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) agenda?”
Creative works are often treated as entertainment instead of tradable products capable of generating jobs, exports and tax revenue.
The recent public discussion surrounding Weasel’s reported UGX 285,498 royalty payment through UPRS should also make us reflect. Royalties were never meant to replace markets, they are meant to complement them. Sustainable incomes come from strong distribution, licensing, exhibition and trade.
The opportunity before us is therefore bigger than funding projects.
It is about building institutions, protecting intellectual property, expanding markets and positioning Uganda’s creative economy as a contributor to national development.
Leadership can create opportunities.
Knowledge determines whether we use them.
There is nothing more unfortunate than standing before the king and asking for leftovers simply because you never understood the kingdom.
I believe Uganda’s creative industries can become one of our strongest economic sectors but only if we move beyond production and start building markets.
“What is the single biggest reform you believe Uganda’s creative industries need to become a major contributor to our national economy?”
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Written by
Mzee Bwanika | Film Producer | Co-founder, Pearlwood | Operations Manager, Stream East FilmsWith 20+ years shaping Uganda’s film industry, I’ve produced over a dozen feature films that spotlight authentic East African stories.
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