Gov't to construct regional cultural centres

By Innocent Anguyo and Norman Katende

THE Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) is set to establish four new regional centres, in light of promoting, popularizing and preserving Ugandan culture in all areas of the country.

Francis Peter Ojede, the Executive Director of UNCC said the regional cultural centres will be located in the north, east, west and central regions.

Most likely, he said the regional centres would be built in phases and plans to acquire land were in advanced stages. The four regional centres would take sh10b to come to fruition.

Due to financial shortages facing the institution, Ojede said public-private partnerships would be a priority in constructing the regional centres.

Ojede was speaking on Sunday, at the launch of the cultural gala, one of UNCC’s new programs aimed at endearing Ugandans to their culture. 

The cultural gala is a weekly dose of entertainment showcasing Ugandan culture. The gala will be held every Sunday, from 3,00pm at UNCC headquarters in Kampala. 

The Gala exhibits all kinds of cultural performances such as dance, art, storytelling, fashion, catwalk, live music among others. Entrance will at times be sh5,000.

Presiding at the launch of the gala as chief guest, Parliament speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga urged UNCC to spread performances across the country so that all Ugandans may get a chance to know more about the cultures in the ‘Pearl of Africa’.

Ojede nevertheless complained of underfunding, saying the sh27m he receives annually from government to maintain run the institution is too little, especially when remuneration for staff costs sh60m every month.

He said as much as UNCC was generating some money through charging on parking on its premises and hiring out its premises for private functions, the administration barely made enough to run the institution efficiently. 

Ojede wants government to increase funding to UNCC so that the institution can perform more efficiently and renovate its existing structures which have deteriorated in the last three decades.