By eastafrican gazette
The board of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) is seeking for a partnership with the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) towards the developing the National Theatre.
The partnership is aimed at making sure that the bank becomes one of the funding partners for the construction of the new national theatre auditorium.
In a meeting with officials of UNCC and UDB at UDB headquarters in Kampala on recently, the UNCC board chairperson Prof. Opio Okaka Doktum said there’s need for the project to be funded because it will benefit the creative industry.
Phina Mugerwa, the Vice Chairperson of the UNCC Board, reinforced this call by urging UDB to provide financial backing that would empower artists to earn sustainable incomes from their crafts.
“The collaboration between UNCC and UDB will significantly enhance the sector’s growth and development,” she said.
The Executive Director of UNCC, Francis Peter Ojede, presented details of the redevelopment project of UNCC and how it will be achieved.
He said the project is already registered with the Ministry of Finance, stressing that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with UDB would be instrumental in its execution.
Were Eriah Funnah, UDB’s Investment Manager for Special Programs, expressed his enthusiasm for the proposed collaboration.
He acknowledged the timeliness of UNCC’s visit, as UDB has been seeking effective ways to support the arts sector.
Funnah outlined various financial packages available to artists through UDB and stressed the importance of financial literacy among artists, advocating for them to save, invest, and develop sustainable careers beyond their artistic pursuits.
He affirmed UDB’s readiness to support UNCC and the arts sector, marking the beginning of a promising partnership aimed at fostering growth and ensuring that artists reap the benefits of their creative endeavors.
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