Uganda to participate in EAC regional festival

Aug 02, 2015

While flagging off the Ugandan Team on Friday last week, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said the fest intends to provide a platform to showcase for art and culture as primary drivers of regional integration and sustainable development.

By Cecilia Okoth

Uganda is set to participate in a regional festival to promote culture and integration of the five East African states.


For a week, a team of 200 participants from the creative arts and culture field will be representing Uganda in Nairobi, Kenya at the Jumuiya ya Africa Mashariki festival (JAMAFEST).
           
The JAMAFEST is the East African Community Arts and Culture festival held on rotational basis among East African (EA) partner states.
           
While flagging off the Ugandan Team on Friday last week, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said the fest intends to provide a platform to showcase for art and culture as primary drivers of regional integration and sustainable development.


  Mwana wa Gwanga dancers dancing at the arrival of Rukia Nakadama,state minister culture and Gender at the Uganda National Cultural Center during the  program for the flagship show of the Ugandan artist to Kenya for Jumuia Afrika Mashariki Festivels on July 31st 2015.PHOTO BY TABITHA MORA

The team will participate in performance exhibitions and demonstrations, discussions and symposia, all aimed at promoting dialogue and learning. This will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and Kenya National Cultural Centre.

The festival operationalizes the East African Community (EAC) Treaty Article 119 that stipulates that, partner states shall promote close cooperation among themselves in respect to cultural activities.



  Acrobats entertaining the congregation  at the Uganda National Cultural Center during the proposed program for the flagship show of the Ugandan artist to Kenya for Jumuia Afrika Mashariki Festivels on July 31st 2015.PHOTO BY TABITHA MORAA

"Uganda's participation will not only fortify the country's promotion of regional integration but also strengthen and deepen free movement of persons, goods and services, within the region," said Muruli.

The festival was initiated in 2013 with the first that took place in Kigali, Rwanda.

The theme for this year's JAMAFEST is "Unleashing the Economic Potential of Cultural and Creative Industries in the East African Community"

Muruli said other expected benefits will include promotion of Uganda's cultural industries and creativity, increased skills, knowledge and competencies through experience sharing and increased access to regional market which could create income, employment and business opportunity of Ugandan cultural practitioners.

"Experience from around the world shows that countries that have economically grown very fast are doing so because their economies are based on their cultures," he added.

 

 Mwana wa Gwanga dancers dancing at the arrival of Rukia Nakadama,state minister culture and Gender at the Uganda National Cultural Center during the  program for the flagship show of the Ugandan artist to Kenya for Jumuia Afrika Mashariki Festivels on July 31st 2015.PHOTO BY TABITHA MORAA

On the global scene, Muruli said world trade is striking for cultural goods and services growing at an unprecedented average annual rate of 8.7percent.

A study carried out in Uganda by UNESCO in 2009, showed that Uganda's export of cultural goods and services between 2004 and 2008 was valued at USD239m, while their contribution to tax revenue was USD6.7m over the same period.

Last year, MGLSD with Uganda Bureau of Statistics carried out another mapping of cultural industries which found out that culture and creative industries in Uganda are growing at 4.5percent per annum.

The report further stated that creative industries employed about 386,000 people, an increase from 250,000 people in 2009.

"I call upon you to stay focused, not to be distracted, be on the alert and follow the laws of Kenya while there and remember to come back home." Muruli cautioned the team.
 

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