Government to invest more in culture, performing arts

In a speech presented by Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament on Sunday, President Museveni promised to increase the support that government has for entertainment, particularly music.

Kadaga was representing the President at the official closure of the International Cultural Fair that ran from Friday to Sunday at the Uganda Museum to mark the end of the multi-cultural event.

Museveni mentioned that Government is planning to set up regional cultural centers

"Culture, hospitality and the entertainment industry make an invaluable asset to Uganda. Government will, through the green jobs project manned by the Gender Ministry establishand equip regional cultural centers to create employment and build capacity of young people," he said.

In her remarks earlier in the day, Kadaga called on Ugandans to embrace cultural diversity, which also contributes over 12.6 billion to the country' s income as a uniting factor and also develop more love for the country.

"Many leaders from Kenya move with a bracelet with the Kenyan flag everywhere they go. However here, many people can barely even sing the national anthem. We need to preserve and love our culture here and attend such events and exhibitions," she said.

Kadaga handed over certificates to students of Jinja SS and Greenhill Academy who won the national cultural quiz prizes for the secondary schools and primary schools respectively.

The winning lot also included the Karamajong with the best local cultural presentation, the Turkish for the best presentation from the international community and the Refugee Law Project as the crowd's favourite with a stunning presentation of the Acholi culture.

She then pledged to support the marketing of traditionally made products at the exhibition to other countries including the US.

The International cultural fair was put together by the Gender Ministry, the Tourism Ministry and the Uganda Tourism Board among others to give people a chance to appreciate the diversity in culture both local and international.

The public was treated to dance performances by among others, the Gulu Theatre Artists (GTA) Milege Band and the Uganda Pioneers Association Cultural Troupe.

Turkish Light Academy, St. Peter's SSS Nsambya, Jinja SS, Kibuli SS also exhibited dance, artefacts and cultural dresses.

 

Cultural leaders thankful

A selection of chiefdoms and kingdoms were also represented at the closing day of the fair.

Quinto Okello the Prime Minister of the Pageya Chiefdom in Gulu expressed his appreciation of this platform as an eye opener and a good platform for sharing.

"We have managed to perform dances that we were presenting mainly in Gulu town here," Okello said.

For Tom Alfred Wankyala, special envoy of the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution to Kampala, this was a chance to explain the main cultural practices of the Bamasaaba.

"Describing the circumcision ceremony for the people has always been our wish and we came to do that here too," Wankyala said.

Others in attendance included Dr Richard Nam, the Prime Minister of Lang'o, Janet Okori Moi, the woman MP for Abim, Annie Logiel of Moroto and Kwar Adhola Moses Stephen of Adhola.

The students' take

Bolton Maleek Wafula

 
"I was looking out for the performances from the Baganda and the Acholi." Bolton Maleek Wafula.

 

Rayan Katabazi

 

"This was a learning opportunity for me. There is a lot to learn about cultural wear and the traditions of many tribes."Rayan Katabazi.

Sofia Farid

 
"The fair gave us the chance to share experiences on culture," Sofia Farid.