Seventy-six Graduate from Swangz Avenue’s creative academy

Seventy-six students have graduated from Swangz Avenue, an audio-visual production company based at The Square in the industrial area. The graduates included sixty-five boys and eleven girls.

Founded in 2022, the Swangz Creative Academy is dedicated to nurturing young creatives by providing practical training to empower them with market-ready skills for successful careers in the creative arts industry. The recent graduation event took place at MOTIV, Old Port Bell Road, Kampala.

The ceremony attracted notable industry stakeholders, including celebrated social entrepreneur and Reach a Hand Uganda founder, Humphrey Nabimanya. Graduates received certificates accredited by the Directorate of Industrial Training under the Ministry of Education.

Courtesy photo

Speaking during the event, Julius Kyazze, CEO of Swangz Avenue, highlighted the academy’s mission to shape a new generation of creative professionals.

“At Swangz Avenue Academy, our goal is to equip young people with practical skills that align with market demands, turning them into job creators rather than job seekers.

Over the past 6-8 weeks, we’ve trained over 50 students in photography, voice recording, film, and more, and it’s exciting to see so many girls embracing these opportunities. Many of our graduates are already securing jobs or being retained within Swangz Avenue, while others are recommended to leading agencies. This is just the beginning — we aim to broaden our training programs beyond the creative sector to empower even more individuals in the future,” said Kyazze.

Benon Mugumbya, Swangz Avenue’s Head of Production, inspired the graduates to cultivate resilience and a hunger for growth.

“Never stop seeking new skills,” Mugumbya urged. “In the creative industry, rejection is inevitable, but winners are those who refuse to give up. Comfort can be a trap, so always be open to new opportunities, even after setbacks.”

The Swangz Creative Academy seeks to skill students who are passionate about developing a career within the creative arts industry and offers courses in audio production, cinematography, digital video editing, live broadcast, scriptwriting, and film production.

"I was part of the September intake at the Swangz Creative Academy. I joined as an aspiring photographer and graduated as a confident videographer. The practical training, open access to equipment, and supportive staff made it an incredible learning experience. Being involved in Swangz projects was the highlight, giving me real-world exposure and growth," said Kyobutungi Sophia Inshuti, a graduate.

"I have graduated in video production from the Swangz Creative Academy. The atmosphere at Swangz is unmatched. Everyone, from the owner to the cleaners, is humble, friendly, and eager to teach. This has taught me the value of hard work and respecting everyone. The academy has given me all the knowledge I needed about videography, and I’m inspired to use it wisely while continuing to learn and grow. It’s a place that has truly shaped my perspective and passion," said Bienfait Minani, a graduate.

“All courses employ an 80% hands-on teaching technique with the rest being theoretical assessments with a question-and-answer format,” Kyazze added.

The Swangz Creative Academy offers a range of courses, including audio production, cinematography, digital video editing, live broadcasting, scriptwriting, and film production.