Office of the National Chairman of NRM (ONC) is headed by General Yoweri Kaguta Museven the President of the Republic of Uganda.ONC was established in accordance with Chapter 4;clause 14 subsection 1 of the NRM Constitution as adopted on 31st March, 2003 which spells out the role of NRM Chairman.
ONC was established mainly to support the National Chairman in implementation of the principles and policies and other activities necessary for the good of NRM and people of Uganda. So it is under ONC armpits to promote wealth creation across the board.
On 24th November, 2023,Minister for ICT appointed Hon.Nyombi Thembo as the substantive Executive Director of Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) replacing Eng.Irene Kaggwa who was in acting capacity.
His appointment is a blessing in disguise to the creative arts which UCC superintends.Besides his long career in the ICT ministry as a State minister before becoming a Director of Rural communication, Hon.Nyombi is also entrenched deeply in the creative arts as he was an actor in one of the leading dramatic groups in Uganda hence making him an accomplished and verified best candidate for the top job of UCC whose terms of reference is to promote creative arts in the country.To amplify it’s significance, the United Nations conference on trade and Development creative Economy passed a resolution to make 2021 the International year of the creative Economy for sustainable development.
The government of Uganda has established an enabling environment using the National cultural policy, the copy right law,the Uganda Communications Act 2013 among others but we have been lacking a critical mass of people like Hon.Nyombi Thembo who can realize the economic impact of creative arts to our people through job and wealth creation which is our mandate at ONC under the management of the industrious, energetic and indefatigable lady in the names of Hajjat Hadijah Uzeiye Namyalo SPA/PA to the President.
Besides the annual 700,000 number of graduates who are charned out,the share of youth unemployment in total is 58% which indicates that the youth have special difficulties finding a job on the labour market. But with collaborative efforts of government departments like UCC,culture and creative arts can absorb many youths both skilled and semi-skilled and unskilled hence reducing unemployment in the country most especially in an era where rural farming in nolonger a hobby to many youths graduates as it is true that creative arts and culture are urban centered and have a white collar outlook.
Many Economists believe that cultural industries are Africa’s untapped gold. For instance According to available data,arts nearly create 30m jobs worldwide and employ more people aged 15-29 than any sector hence very viable to our population where 80% are below the age of 30 years.
Put differently to amplify the critical significance of this sector,According to World trade for culture, creative goods and services were estimated at $2250b while growth value annually was estimated as 8.8% while in developing countries like Uganda exports for creative goods and services has been growing at a rate of 12.1% annually since 2002.
Similarly to shade for you the multiplier impact of the creative Economy,A renowned artist in Uganda stage fees is approximately not less than Ugx 2m for two hours of stage performance. Doesn’t matter whether has a degree or not, but many people are employed under his/her talent like video producers,audio visual media, vixens,drama and entertainment, music retailers among others. Other members in this industry include video producers, video halls,film producers,fashion houses,heritage among others which UCC has to coordinate and support.
Besides the good content support to the film industry and the Uganda film festival which are highly commendable, UCC should sensitize people starting in schools to love their content more especially in this era where our education is making us believe that local things are not ” dop” but only Western.
In conclusion, Hon.Nyombi Thembo should rise up to the occasion and open doors for different stakeholders to help him uphold creative arts in high regard,and most especially help the industry players earn handsomely through royalties.
The writer is the Head of Research Office of the National Chairman of NRM.
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