Uganda’s film industry has received a boost following renewed calls to invest in local filmmakers and scale up production infrastructure in western Uganda.
Rosa Malango, also known as “Naluwooza,” commended the growing talent, organisation, and dedication among members of the Western Uganda Film Makers Association after engaging with creatives in Mbarara.
She acknowledged the role of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda and partners such as the Media Council of Uganda in equipping filmmakers with skills to navigate content regulation and censorship, noting that such training is key to producing competitive and legally compliant content.
Malango called on key government institutions, including the Uganda Investment Authority, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Uganda Communications Commission, and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, to expand the SME business park in Mbarara to include a dedicated film production zone with rentable equipment.
She said such a facility would make production tools more accessible and affordable for local filmmakers.
The Rosa also proposed an annual national film initiative focused on Uganda’s history, starting with a project on the Uganda Martyrs. She suggested that the film be supported and promoted as part of the country’s tourism strategy, including premieres aligned with Independence Day celebrations.
Malango further emphasised the need for partnerships with stakeholders to promote Ugandan films locally and internationally, noting the potential of the sector to contribute to tourism, job creation, and revenue generation.
She also called for the introduction of film-focused tax incentives to support domestic producers, arguing that creatives should be recognised as key contributors to Uganda’s economic growth.
The proposal aligns with broader ambitions to position Uganda’s creative industry as part of regional trade and export under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.
