The Executive Director of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Godfrey Mutabazi has urged the government and stakeholders to set up a ‘local content fund’ to help simplify the production of films in a bid to develop the industry.
According to Mr. Mutabazi, the industry has been inundated with copyright piracy and intellectual property infringement, and inadequate training for film makers/producers, something he said, retards the development of the film making industry.
However, Mutabazi, who speaking at the UCC headquarters Bugolobi ahead of the launch of the annual film festival of 2017 scheduled for August 28-September 1, noted that from 2013 the industry, leading to the submission of films at international festivals.
He lauded the key stakeholders like including Andrew Benon Kibuuka and Fagil Monday for continuous production of art pieces and advised them to identify suitable partnerships and opportunities for young film makers.
‘’Once tapped into and geared in the right direction, it has the potential to create employment, promote and preserve our culture,” Mutabazi said.
Art enthusiast General Elly Tumwiine called for more engagements and government interventions, noting that revenues earned from the entertainment industry in Nigeria have almost surpassed oil proceeds.
“Don’t fear making mistakes, fear repeating them and don’t fear failure because amateurs practice until they get it riight while professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong,” Gen Tumwiine said in a motivational speech to the film makers.
“Africa’s heritage is so rich that film makers should exploit it for the positive change of the community,” Gen. Tumwine added.
Speaking at the same function Stephen Asiimwe, the Executive Director of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), promised incentives to film makers shooting movies about Ugandan tourist attraction areas as a way is promoting both sectors.
“This will help bring in foreign exchange for the development of the country,” Mr Asiimwe noted.
