Why I am building the Blue Marble Storytellers House (and What It’s Really For)

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Some people build houses.

I am building a home for stories.

The Blue Marble Storytellers House is not just a property project. It’s not just “a venue.” And it’s not just “a writing space.”

It is the physical expression of a belief I’ve carried for twenty years:
Stories shape societies. And storytellers deserve sacred space to create them.

In Uganda, we have brilliant minds. Powerful lived experiences. Quiet heroes. Loud truths.

We also have countless people walking around with books inside them – unwritten, unfinished, delayed by life.

And I know that feeling intimately.

Why I chose to build it

In 2023, my father passed away.

Grief changes time.

It slows you down. It rearranges priorities. It makes you question what matters – and what lasts.

Then life shifted again. Work shifted. The ground moved under my feet.

And I asked myself a tricky question:

If everything can change, what will I build that remains valuable?

I didn’t want to build something that only served me.

I wanted to build something that served the work- the work of writing, reflection, creativity, learning, community, and legacy.

That is the Blue Marble Storytellers House.

What the Blue Marble is (and what it is not)

It is:

• A creative sanctuary for storytellers, authors, thought leaders and thinkers
• A professional space for workshops, training, and small meetings
• A home for book launches, writing sprints, and intimate conversations
• A place where ideas move from “someday” to “done”

It is not:

• A random hall for noise with no purpose
• A space where disrespect is welcome
• A place for events that compromise the values of storytelling, learning, and community

I want this to be a space that carries a specific energy: intentional, warm, and serious about creative work.

What happens here (and how it creates income sustainably)

A beautiful space must be sustainable. That means it must generate revenue – without losing its soul.

Here’s what the Blue Marble Design:

1) Events and workshops

• The heart of the space:
• Writing workshops
• Masterclasses
• Small leadership retreats
• Editorial clinics
• Partnership pitch labs
• Book launches

These don’t just bring in income – they build community and create future clients.

2) Meetings and small corporate gatherings

• Many organisations want a venue that feels professional but not sterile.
• A space where people can think.
• Strategy sessions
• Board meetings
• Training days
• Small team off-sites

When your environment supports clarity, the meeting is more productive. That’s value.

The deeper mission: changing what storytellers believe is possible

Beyond revenue, this is what I truly want:

I want storytellers to stop believing that their work must happen “in the margins.”

I want professionals to stop postponing their books until retirement.

I want leaders to document their wisdom while they are still alive to share it.

I want creative people to meet, collaborate, and grow.

Because when storytellers gather, a country grows.

If you want to use the Blue Marble

If you are:

• planning a workshop
• launching a book
• hosting a small meeting
• running a masterclass
• looking for a space with meaning and calm

Then we should talk.

I am currently opening the calendar for a limited number of bookings and curated events starting in March 2026.

Comment “VENUE”, and I’ll share availability and packages.

If you want to co-host a writing or leadership event at the Blue Marble, DM me “COLLAB.”

Final thought

I’m not building Blue Marble to impress anyone.

I’m building it because I believe stories deserve infrastructure. I am building it because I know that our stories are important, and we should write them.

And because I believe the next chapter – mine, yours, and Uganda’s should be written with intention.

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Written by

Jackee Batanda

Strategic Partnerships Architect | Author | Book Writing Mentor Executive Story Consultant | Editor

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