Ugandan filmmakers urged to focus on culture

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HOIMA - Filmmakers and producers in Uganda have been challenged to focus on promoting African culture if their effort is to make a positive impact on society.

Mzee Julius Bwanika, the executive secretary of Pearl Wood, says the young generation is more exposed to foreign than indigenous content and this challenge is resulting in the erosion and extinction of Ugandan and African culture at large.

According to him, most of the people who go for the film industry, produce movies related to Western cultures and such content is not helping Africans. He was optimistic that if Ugandans focus on content that promotes indigenous culture, they make an impact on society. 

“Globally, one of the biggest products that can be sold is culture, our day-to-day stories and our lives. There is so much that the world doesn’t know about Bunyoro culture. I implore the Ugandan and the youth in Bunyoro film-makers to produce stories that speak about our cultures, stories that can archive our culture so that we can bridge the gap between the generation, culture, values and norms as Ugandan, as people in Bunyoro,” he says.  

He made the call while addressing over 200 young filmmakers from the districts that make up Bunyoro Kitara kingdom. The filmmakers were attending a film-making training organised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in partnership with Pearl Wood on September 12, 2024, in Hoima city.

Violation of culture

Daniel Kaweesi, the programme officer in charge of cultures at Ugandan National Commission for UNESCO, said they are conducting countrywide empowerment of filmmakers to ensure that they embark on producing content that promotes and protects culture.

Hoima City deputy mayor Sylia Nalumaga challenged the youth in Bunyoro to embrace the film industry adding that if this industry gets embraced it will help in addressing unemployment and idleness among the youth. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)

He noted that this was after they discovered that filmmakers were producing biased content and this resulted in violation of culture.

“We have realised our films are carrying a lot of biased content. For example, stereotypes end up hurting many people and at the end of it all culture is violated. So, we are in Bunyoro to build capacity for the stakeholder in film sector, especially using films as a tool to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expression," Kaweesi. 

"It is important that culture is protected and promoted because if it is not done so, it will disappear,” he added.   

Ronald Mwesigwa, the former Bunyoro Kitara kingdom land officer and a filmmaker, said the training came at the right time as many filmmakers have not been prioritising culture.

He noted that Bunyoro culture such as the language, dress code and food sovereignty are facing extinction adding that if filmmakers start producing content promoting Bunyoro culture it will be beneficial to the people of Bunyoro.

Muhereza Eddy Man, the co-ordinator of Bunyoro Filmmakers Association, commanded UNESCO for the training adding that they have been engaging in filmmaking without skill.

"They have trained us on how to write a good script, how to direct a good movie and how to become a good storyteller. We have been making films that we think are good for us and they have not made any impact to our lives and society,” he said.  

Hoima City deputy mayor Sylia Nalumaga expressed excitement about the training of the filmmakers adding that if they embrace cultural content, it will help mostly young children whom she said are growing without knowing their cultures.

She challenged the youth in Bunyoro to embrace the film industry adding that if this industry gets embraced it will help in addressing unemployment and idleness among the youth.