By eastafrican gazette
Kampala
The state minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo has emphasized the importance of communities preserving cultural values in order to strengthen norms and uphold cultural heritage.
She stressed the necessity of implementing significant regulations in the digital sector, particularly for major platforms, in order to safeguard online cultural diversity, protect artists’ intellectual property rights, and ensure fair access to content for everyone.
The right to belong to, enjoy, practice, profess, maintain, and promote any culture is guaranteed to every individual under article 37 of the Ugandan Constitution.
Uganda is also a member of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Speaking during the World Culture Day event at the National Theatre on May 21, 2024, Mutuuzo emphasized the importance of preserving and embracing “our culture” while discouraging the adoption of foreign cultures.
The event was commemorated under the theme “Digital transformation of culture and creative industries packaging Art and Culture as a national public good”.
She mentioned that the government is dedicated to enhancing the culture and creative industry by implementing new policies and legal frameworks, as well as restructuring the sector.
The aim of this day is to raise awareness among the public about the significance of culture in development, foster a deeper understanding of cultural norms and values, and celebrate Uganda’s rich heritage.
Mutuuzo explained that the day presents a chance to further the objectives outlined in the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression, to enhance comprehension of the significance of cultural diversity,
Regarding cultural development and recent policy initiatives, she emphasized the necessity of implementing measures to safeguard the copyrights of creators of original works.
She said this ensures that they can derive tangible value from their creations.
Muhammed Zamugo, a representative for artists, urged the government to enforce copyright laws in order to ensure that even young individuals can benefit from their talents.
“If the copyright law is put in place everything will move on smoothly. It won’t be easy to just take on somebody’s innovation and own it like it is today. Many young people have lost opportunities due to lack of a law to protect their innovations,” he added.
Zadmonk Ssabatomi, received an accolade for his outstanding involvement in the World rapping competition held in Japan, where he showcased his rap skills for an astounding 75 hours.
Expressing his gratitude, Ssabatomi acknowledged the government’s recognition of his efforts.
Furthermore, he encouraged the younger generation to harness their talents in order to generate job opportunities and provide assistance to underprivileged families within their own communities.
Yusuf Badru Ssebanakitte, a well-known artist, mentioned that in the past, any script written for a play or drama had to undergo a review process at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, before being released to the public.
He stressed that this was always done in order to preserve “our culture and ethics”.
The artists were subject to regulations regarding what could be presented to the public, which is no longer the case today.
Ssebanakitte noted that nowadays, when you write something and hand it over to the producer, they may completely change it into something different from what you intended to convey.
He stated that due to the absence of copyright laws, all creations may continue to be exploited.
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