Artists decry denial of visas

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Artists and creatives have expressed frustration over the difficulties they face when applying for visas to travel for international performances, exhibitions, and collaborations. Despite having formal invitations, signed contracts or scheduled events, many artists report that embassies impose stringent restrictions that result in frequent visa denials. 

Rachel Magoola, the Woman MP for Bugweri District and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum for Creative Arts, has raised concerns about these travel barriers, which she says are stifling the mobility of artists and limiting opportunities for cultural exchange and professional growth. 

“The creative people in Uganda have issues. Whenever they need to travel, the embassies out there give them such a hard time. In fact, most visas are denied,” Magoola stated. 

She made these remarks last week during the launch of the National Cultural Policy report findings at the Hilton Hotel in Kampala. She pointed out that even when artists have legally binding agreements with international counterparts, embassies still create hurdles that prevent them from showcasing their talent on global platforms. 

“If mobility of cultural people was eased, we would, of course, want to see more Ugandans in these countries,” she added, calling for urgent reforms to facilitate travel for the creative industry. 

Responding to these concerns, Jan Sadek, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Uganda, defended the stringent visa application processes, attributing them to past instances of Ugandans overstaying their visas. 

“The problem is that we have also seen that some Ugandans stay in Europe in a way that they shouldn’t. You should return to Uganda. That is actually the reason why our member states have to scrutinize the applications very heavily,” Sadek explained. 

He, however, expressed optimism that if more Ugandans adhered to visa regulations and returned home after their engagements, European countries would be more willing to ease restrictions. “This is something we want to see, to have a very regulated and good visa regime,” he said. 

Gaps in the creative industry 

Magoola also highlighted deeper structural challenges affecting the creative industry, particularly the fragmented management of cultural affairs. She noted that culture-related policies are scattered across multiple ministries, making it difficult for artists to access support or streamlined services. 

Rachel Magoola, Woman MP Bugweri District and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum for Creative Arts. (Credit: Sarah Nabakooba)

“The culture space is scattered in six different ministries. You find that intellectual property is in the Ministry of Justice, cultural tourism is in the Ministry of Tourism, tangible heritage is in the Ministry of Gender, and intangible heritage is in the Ministry of Tourism,” she explained. 

According to her, this fragmentation hampers coordination and funding, leaving artists without a central institution to advocate for their needs. “The creative industries are very big. They have over 20 different domains, but without a coordinated way of developing, educating, mobilizing funds, and researching, the sector has stagnated,” she added. She recalled that in the past, when Uganda had a dedicated Ministry of Culture and Sports, there was more government involvement in promoting local artists, which helped to showcase Uganda’s cultural wealth internationally. 

The guest of honor, Balaam Barugahara, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, while advocating for better policies and financial support, called upon artists to uphold professionalism and responsible behaviour. 

“If you are an artist, you should not excessively consume alcohol and drugs. Let us not engage in any form of harassment. Let’s be exemplary and promote unity among the people who support us,” he urged. 

He also weighed in on the struggles faced by creatives, citing the case of Dr Stephen Rwangyezi, the founder of the Ndere Troupe. 

“In the interest of expansion, he went for a loan. He has done a lot for our sector, for Uganda. He has raised our flag, yet he is struggling to clear a debt for a facility that benefits us all. So as a minister, I feel obliged and forced to join the forces that say we should save this man,” Barugahara said. 

He also emphasized the need for financial support and better policies to sustain the cultural industry and urged the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) to improve its relationship with artists by sharing opportunities and linking them to funding programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP). 

“I urge UNCC to be transparent and accountable for all resources it gets, whether from development partners or from the government,” he added.  “I believe my ministry will submit a revised Uganda National Cultural Policy to Cabinet for approval by the end of March. I’m hopeful that the principles of the culture and creative law will be ready by December,” he stated.