The Minister of State for East African Affairs James Magode Ikuya has tasked Ugandan filmmakers to use their God-given talents to market the country’s physical features.
While officiating at the Eastern regional film competition organised by Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) in collaboration with MultiChoice Uganda in Tororo District, Mr Magode said such initiatives would help to publicize the country’s hidden beauty at the international level hence boosting the tourism industry.
According to him, Uganda is endowed with natural features and cultures that are good for tourism attraction and the only way to market it is by the audio-visual actors and producers to use them as venues where they can act their movies.
“Uganda as a nation has rich cultures and natural features that can be used to boost the tourism industry but, unfortunately, they have not fully been exposed [to the world] and you filmmakers can use them as venues for acting,” he said.
He said it’s unfair for foreign movies to be promoted in the country when the country has potential filmmakers.
He encouraged the film-makers to be intentional about the quality of the content they produce for global export.
According to UCC spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Bbosa, the regional film contest was organized to recognize, reward and promote outstanding films and talents in different regions.
He said the competition is part of the activities ahead of the national film festival to be held in June 2025.
“The regional film competition and innovation is in line with the country’s content development support programme which is dedicated to spurring the audio-visual industry,” he said.
The regional film competition awards not only acknowledged established filmmakers but also emerging talent through its student film category that aims at promoting the growth of the local film industry by showcasing Ugandan film and providing a platform for filmmakers to network and gain international recognition.
