Uganda: National Cultural Forum wants COVID-19 relief from govt

In a petition letter dated 26 May 2020 and addressed to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the NCF proposes the establishment of a relief fund to provide loans of between 20 million and 75 million Ugandan shillings ($5 300 and $20 000).

The NCF says the loans will assist CCI enterprises to "rebound back, expand market platforms including digital, develop skills of the practitioners and thereby grow the capacity to generate government revenue, create wealth and more jobs, especially for the youths.”

If approved, a minimum of 500 projects will be supported. The proposed projects could include the creation of new products, new distribution platforms or training programmes for creatives, among others.

Speaking to Music In Africa, NCF public relations and communications head Emma Carlos said: "The minister [Frank Tumwebaze] acknowledged receipt of the letter, and we await the next course of action. We hope to discuss the proposal further and other logistics such as a payment plan for loans," he said.

Carlos added that the meeting would also highlight the failure to enforce the 75% local content quota regulation by the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) and the almost non-existent collection of royalties from broadcasters and education institutions.

“Only about 10% of TVs and radios have a copyright royalty license,” he said. “The meeting will also highlight the lack of a private copy levy charged on gadgets used to copy and share music, films, books, visual art and other products via social media and the Internet without royalty payments.”

The NCF represents artists in the fields of performing arts, film, literature, visual arts, fashion, publishing, audiovisual production and artist management.

Its primary mandate includes advocating and lobbying for the CCI sector and contributing to the implementation of Uganda's cultural policy.