Entebbe — Uganda’s creative and cultural industries have been hailed as a sleeping giant for inclusive economic growth, employment, and national identity during the closing session of the 13th ICPAU Economic Forum held at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.
Speaking during the session on Culture and the Creative Economy, Ms. Aisha Nabwanika, CEO of Ewaffe Cultural Village, emphasised that the creative economy goes far beyond art and entertainment. “It’s Uganda’s future, and it’s already employing thousands — from youth-led performances to digital content creators across the country,” she said.
Nabwanika stressed the urgent need to preserve Uganda’s 55 distinct cultures, warning that many are disappearing under the pressures of modernity. “Culture is the only tourism product that delivers a truly local experience. Every lion looks the same, but each community’s dance, story, or meal is unique,” she noted. She called for greater integration of culture into school curricula and national tourism strategies to foster identity-driven economic growth.
Despite challenges like overregulation and underfunding, Nabwanika highlighted how cultural tourism creates jobs and sustains livelihoods across Uganda. “One $50 visit supports local guides, farmers, dancers, even mobile money vendors,” she explained.
Mr. James Wasula, Executive Director of Afrigo Band and the Parliamentary Forum for Creative Industries, echoed Nabwanika’s concerns, urging policymakers to shift from restrictive regulation to active promotion of the creative sector.
He criticised outdated colonial-era laws that continue to stifle artists and cultural entrepreneurs. “Artists are forced to seek approval from multiple agencies just to host a concert. Too many laws still treat artists like suspects, not citizens,” he said.
Wasula also pointed out the gap between policy rhetoric and resource allocation, noting that while the African Union recommends 1% of national budgets for culture, Uganda allocates a mere 0.001%. “If we are serious about unlocking the creative economy’s potential, we must back our words with real resources,” he urged.
The session, chaired by CPA Sandra Batte Nakibuule, Associate Director at Ernst & Young, focused on unlocking the full potential of Uganda’s cultural and creative assets to drive innovation, jobs, and inclusive growth.
Circular Economy: Waste as Wealth
Earlier in the forum, attention turned to Uganda’s environmental and waste management challenges through a session on Circular Economy: Rethinking Waste to Create Wealth. Peter Okwoko, co-founder of TakaTaka Plastics, showcased how the organisation is transforming Uganda’s plastic waste crisis into an opportunity for jobs and economic empowerment.
“Uganda produces 600 tonnes of plastic waste daily, yet only 6% is recycled,” Okwoko said. Through innovations like plastic building tiles and school slates made from recycled PET bottles, TakaTaka Plastics is not only tackling environmental challenges but also creating employment for vulnerable youth in Gulu, where unemployment is twice the national average.
“Every slate we produce removes 20 plastic bottles from the environment. We’re not just reducing waste — we’re redefining livelihoods,” Okwoko added. His organisation has trained 2,500 school children and reached over 13 million people through environmental education.
Okwoko called for tax incentives, import duty waivers for recycling technology, VAT zero-rating, and innovation grants to scale solutions like TakaTaka Plastics nationwide. “A circular economy isn’t optional. It’s Uganda’s only path forward,” he concluded.
The 13th ICPAU Economic Forum once again provided a platform for bold ideas and practical solutions to some of Uganda’s pressing economic challenges, from cultural preservation and creative industry growth to sustainable waste management and youth employment.
Hosted under the theme “Building Resilience through Innovation”, the forum brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators to reimagine Uganda’s economic future through culture, creativity, and sustainability.
