Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda’s growing film industry, describing the sector as a key driver of job creation, tourism promotion and cultural preservation.
The commitment was delivered by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, during the Uganda Film Festival Awards Gala in Kampala on Friday.
Her speech was delivered by the Minister of State for Local Government, Justine Nameere, who said Government is increasingly recognising film and the wider arts sector as an important contributor to national development.
“Film, if supported and nurtured, can contribute a great deal to Uganda’s economic development through job creation and tourism promotion, among others,” Nameere said.
She noted that the importance of the film industry is particularly significant given Uganda’s youthful population, with the sector providing opportunities for young people to build careers and earn a living.
“Film has emerged as a very important vocation, with significant implications for society, the economy, and culture. The fact that it provides employment opportunities for mostly our youth, the biggest segment of our population, underlines its importance as part of our national development agenda,” she said.
MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT
Nameere said Government no longer views the arts simply as a form of entertainment, but as a sector capable of contributing to employment, education, empowerment and cultural identity.
“We now understand that the arts, as this business sometimes is called, are more than just entertainment. They are employment, education, empowerment, and a mirror into our society,” she said.
She also highlighted the growing international reach of Ugandan productions, crediting initiatives such as the Uganda Film Festival for creating platforms through which local filmmakers can showcase their work beyond Uganda.
According to Nameere, Ugandan films are increasingly crossing borders and contributing to the promotion of the country’s image.
“Ugandan filmmakers are making us proud, marketing our country internationally and attracting more investors and tourists in the process,” she said.
CALL TO CONSUME LOCAL CONTENT
The Minister also challenged Ugandans to embrace locally produced films and create more space for Ugandan stories.
She noted that while Ugandans have historically consumed large amounts of foreign entertainment, including Hollywood productions and international sports content, this should not happen at the expense of local creativity.
“We must also create space for our own stories, voices, and experience to be seen and heard,” she said.
She urged Ugandans to extend the “Buy Uganda, Build Uganda” spirit to the creative sector by consuming and supporting locally produced content.
FILMMAKERS WARNED
As Government pledged continued support, Nameere cautioned filmmakers to maintain professional and ethical standards as the industry expands.
She urged producers to respect the law, safeguard human dignity and protect children while ensuring that their productions promote positive cultural values.
Filmmakers were also reminded to pay attention to quality, originality and copyright compliance, which she said are essential for building a sustainable and globally competitive industry.
“Our filmmakers must not forget their responsibility to respect the law, safeguard human dignity, protect children, and promote positive cultural values while telling their stories,” she said.
She added that adherence to these principles would be critical in building a film industry that is respected both locally and internationally.
UFF AS INDUSTRY PLATFORM
The Uganda Film Festival, launched by the Uganda Communications Commission in 2013, has become one of the platforms through which Government and industry players seek to promote Uganda’s film sector.
The festival provides an avenue for filmmakers to showcase local productions while creating opportunities for industry networking, recognition and exposure.
Government’s latest commitment comes at a time when Uganda’s film industry is seeking greater investment, stronger distribution networks and increased consumption of local productions.
With a largely youthful population and growing international interest in African stories, Government believes the sector can play a bigger role in creating jobs, preserving Uganda’s culture and promoting the country as a tourism destination.
