Members of the Creative industry performing recently in Gulu City as Sylvia Owori (in white) enjoys. Photo by Arnest Tumwesige
By Arnest Tumwesige and Simon Wokorach
Gulu: The creative industry in Uganda, particularly in the Greater North, has struggled to yield substantial returns for creators, often leaving them reliant on handouts.
However, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), a government initiative championing household poverty reduction, is seeking a multibillion-shilling strategy to break this cycle and empower creatives in the region.
Under the leadership of Sylvia Owori, Director of Operations at OWC, the Creatives Arts Foundation has been established to bring together creators from West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja (WALK).
The foundation has drafted a UGX 49 billion master plan to support members across nine domains identified by the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development.
These domains include musicians, DJs, songwriters, producers, promoters, fashion designers, media professionals, publishers, and others.
In an interview, Owori highlighted the challenges the government has faced in managing artists nationwide. “Because of disunity in the music industry, supporting individual artists or isolated associations to hold events and concerts has not achieved much,” she noted.
She emphasized that the new initiative would decentralize quality production facilities. “Each time you think about a good production studio, you must travel to Kampala, pay for accommodation, and hire a translator if you don’t know Luganda. Now, you’ll have your own quality production studio at home,” Owori said.
Once funding is approved by the Ministry of Finance, it will be used to construct four mega production studios in Gulu City, Lira City, Arua City, and Kotido Municipality in the Karamoja region.
The fund will also support capacity building for creatives, purchase a mobile stage for concerts, and help artists organize events in the 2025 financial year.
Beneficiaries Applaud the Initiative
Solomon Aboda, the interim WALK Chairperson, commended the government for supporting creatives in the Greater North, allowing them to share their stories through audio-visual media.
He emphasized the importance of producing stories reflecting the region’s armed conflict as part of its social and economic recovery.
“Our legendary artists fought for the peace we enjoy today. They produced songs advocating for peace and unity using their own resources. Now, the government is supporting us, and this help comes at a critical time as we shift our approach to healing the region,” Aboda said.
Pamela Peace Anena, whose music career began in 2007, urged calmness within the creative fraternity to ensure the initiative’s success.
Anena, the interim chairperson of the Acholi sub-region, praised Gen. Salim Saleh, Chief Coordinator of OWC, for his dedication to supporting creatives in the region.
Opening of the SACCO Office
In August 2024, Owori and the interim executive registered the foundation with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) as a company limited by guarantee and with the Ministry of Trade to establish a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO).
In December, a SACCO office was inaugurated in Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City, opposite Independent Hospital, at a ceremony attended by Phina Mugerwa, Vice Chairperson of the Uganda National Cultural Centre. Mugerwa handed over UGX 10 million to support SACCO operations.
“You must be disciplined with this money because it’s a revolving fund. We’ve fought and abused one another enough—this is the end of the battle. Now, we are united,” Mugerwa remarked.
