The government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, has injected one billion Shillings into the Northern Uganda Arts and Creative Industry. The revolving fund was recently handed over to the Walk Arts Creative Foundation to support asset financing, music production, and commercial agriculture for artists and other creatives in the region.
The Foundation’s General Secretary, Simon Oyoo Nyigiling, told journalists during a media briefing on Tuesday that the support is part of a long-term 49-billion-Shilling development plan spread over ten years. Nyigiling said artists and other players in the creative industry from Northern Uganda, with guidance and support, submitted a proposal of 49 billion Shillings to the government.
He explained that the long-term investment plan allocates 20 billion Shillings to support the SACCO, while 29 billion Shillings will be used to develop music infrastructure and promote commercial agriculture. The Chairperson of Walk Arts Creative Foundation, Solomon Aboda, noted that only registered members will benefit from the revolving loans.
So far, the Foundation has registered over 5,000 members operating in the creative industry across Northern Uganda, including musicians, publishers, promoters, and other creatives. Aboda explained that each member pays a registration fee of 10,000 Shillings, an annual subscription of 20,000 Shillings, and is required to buy two shares valued at 100,000 Shillings.
In addition, members save 20,000 Shillings weekly with the Foundation, funds which are invested through the SACCO, with dividends shared based on individual savings and investments. Aboda described the funding as historic, saying it is the first time the government has directly recognized and supported the arts industry in Northern Uganda as a sector capable of transforming the country’s economy. The Nwoya District Commercial Officer and Technical Advisor to the Foundation, Godfrey Odoki, cautioned against misuse of the funds if the Foundation is to continue earning government trust.
Odoki noted that the government has identified SACCOs as a key model for financial inclusion and remains committed to reviving cooperatives across the country. He urged SACCO board members to hold regular meetings and provide accountability to members. “This is seed capital. Don’t eat it, because the government is looking at transforming household incomes through cooperatives,” Odoki warned.
Mario Atwine, commonly known as Professor Mario, the Walk sub-regional chairperson in Lango and Finance Secretary of the Foundation, pledged transparency and accountability in managing the funds. Veteran artist Tempra Omona commended the government for supporting the growth of the music and creative industry in Northern Uganda, noting that such support was unheard of in earlier years.
“Our time was tough. We didn’t even have recording studios, and we never imagined the government would invest in this sector,” Omona said. He added that during the years of conflict, artists used their own resources to promote peace among communities living in internally displaced persons’ camps, making the current support especially rewarding now that peace has returned.
Robina Amony, a content creator and publisher, said that as the region continues to recover, there is an urgent need to protect women from economic vulnerability. “The women are the powerhouse. They have the vision, but that vision can only transform the nation when there is support,” Amony said.
Another veteran artist, Pamela Peace, who also serves as the Walk sub-regional chairperson for Acholi, encouraged more creatives to register and grow with the Foundation. The Walk Arts Creative Foundation was established in December 2024 with support from Operation Wealth Creation under the guidance of Sylvia Owori, the Director of Operations.
Registered as a company limited by guarantee, the Foundation aims to support creatives across nine domains of the arts and creative industry as defined by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. These include music, performing arts, film and video, arts and crafts, books and publishing, software and innovation, cultural and natural heritage, and support services.
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