UNCC, UDB officials meet over National Theatre redevelopment project

Members of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) have held a meeting with officials of the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) to discuss strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the arts sector.

The meeting took place at the UDB headquarters in Kampala on Friday, June 14, 2024.

The UNCC team was led by their board chairperson, Prof. Opio Okaka Doktum, board member Phina Mugerwa,  UNCCexecutive director Francis Peter Ojede and UNCC public relations officer Robert Musiitwa.

In his remarks, Doktum emphasised the value and contributions of the arts sector to Uganda's economy and cultural heritage.

He outlined the necessity for financial support, highlighting the benefits that funding the sector could bring to both artistes and the nation.

Doktum called upon UDB to collaborate with UNCC to reach stakeholders at the grassroots level, ensuring that the support benefits all layers of the creative community.

Mugerwa reinforced this call by urging UDB to provide financial backing that would empower artistes to earn sustainable incomes from their crafts.

“The creative industry has a lot of opportunities because it has a lot of domains with many players, I therefore request UDB to partner with UNCC because the collaboration will significantly enhance the sector's growth and development,” she said

 Ojede presented details of a redevelopment project of UNCC and how it will be achieved

“The project is already registered with the Ministry of Finance and that a public-private partnership with UDB would be instrumental in its execution. This redevelopment project aims to create a more robust infrastructure to support the arts sector," Eriah Funnah Were, UDB's investment manager for special programmes, expressed his enthusiasm for the proposed collaboration.

He acknowledged the timeliness of UNCC's visit, as UDB has been seeking effective ways to support the arts sector.

Were outlined various financial packages available to artistse through UDB and stressed the importance of financial literacy among artistes, advocating for them to save, invest, and develop sustainable careers beyond their artistic pursuits.

He affirmed UDB's readiness to support UNCC and the arts sector, marking the beginning of a promising partnership aimed at fostering growth and ensuring that artists reap the benefits of their creative endeavors.

This strategic engagement between UNCC and UDB holds great promise for the future of Uganda's arts sector, aiming to provide the necessary financial support and infrastructure to nurture and sustain the country's rich cultural heritage.