Parliament Speaker Anita Among meets with members of the Uganda National Cultural Centre in Kampala on December 3, 2024. PHOTO/HANDOUT
The artistes lobbied for support, expecially in exploring plans of redeveloping the National Theatre.
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Annet Among, has assured the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) board of trustees Parliament’s unwavering support in helping them support initiatives that advance Uganda’s cultural agenda.
Ms Among made the remarks during a meeting she held with UNCC’s board of trustees on December 3 at Parliament.
The Speaker hailed the institution’s pivotal role in safeguarding Uganda’s cultural heritage.
“As Parliament, we fully recognise the importance of cultural preservation and promotion in fostering unity, identity, and national pride,” she said.
The Speaker also commended the board’s efforts in nurturing creatives and elevating Uganda’s culture to the global stage.
“On behalf of Parliament, I assure you of my unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives that advance Uganda’s cultural agenda. This includes advocating for adequate funding for the arts and culture,” she added.
Speaking about the meeting, musician Moses Ssali, alias Bebe Cool, a member of the board, said their discussion centred on the challenges facing UNCC.
“One of the key topics we discussed was the need to empower UNCC through legislative reforms. The current UNCC Act is outdated and no longer aligns with contemporary trends and best practices. We urged the Speaker to support efforts to amend it to enable UNCC to effectively fulfill its mandate,” he noted.
Board members
The members of the Board of Trustees were led by (chairperson), Francis Ojede (secretary), and musicians Moses Ssali, alias Bebe Cool, and Phina Mugerwa (vice chairperson), among others.