National Theatre for redevelopment

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KAMPALA - The government of Uganda has pledged to support the creative industry under through the National Development Plan. 

The development was announced by the executive director of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) Francis Peter Ojedde during a stakeholders meeting that took place at the National Theatre on Wednesday, July, 29. 

The stakeholders included all representatives of the different domains that fall under the management of the UNCC. 

They include dramatists, comedians, musicians, visual artists and book publishers.

“We need proposals on how this sector will be developed by the government because the creative industry has been placed under funding through the National Development Plan,” Ojedde said. 

He further said that the industry has been prioritized and is now Number Four among the list of sectors that will be funded and developed by the government.

According to Ojedde, among the priorities of the UNCC is to redevelop the National Theatre to accommodate between 1500 to 2000 people because the current auditorium, sitting 377 people, is too small to handle the large number of people that attend National Theatre events. 

He said they have begun discussions with a number of partners that they would like to work with to make sure that this project succeeds. 

“We also want to establish other theatres in the different regions,” he added.
There were also calls to amend the UNCC Act. “It is too old to address the current challenges of the creative industry,” Ojedde said.

The UNCC board chairman Okaka Opio Dokotum asked the stakeholders to support the board and the management to achieve their goals because they only have three years to deliver. 

“This is the time for us to work and develop this industry because even the government and the president of Uganda is aware of the social, and economic impact of the creative sector on Ugandans,” he said. 

He said the industry has potential to be a primary driver of national development if it is well-structured and professionalized.

Also present at the meeting were the board members of UNCC which included Bebe Cool and Phina Mugerwa Masanyalaze.