This week, the Nordic embassies in Uganda – Denmark, Sweden and Iceland – are celebrating our longstanding partnership with Uganda through a shared focus on youth, culture and creativity. Throughout the week artists and representatives from the creative sectors of our respective countries will come together for a series of events, workshops and exchanges designed to connect with and inspire young Ugandans.
With the right skills and opportunities, Uganda’s youth can become the country’s greatest asset and a driving force for future development. This is why youth engagement and meaningful participation are central to the Nordic partnership with Uganda. It is also why we welcome and support the Ugandan Government’s efforts to ensure that young people are represented, consulted and given opportunities to contribute to society.
Importantly, the cultural and creative industries engage more young people than many other sectors. It is, therefore, encouraging that Uganda’s 10-Fold Growth Strategy, which aims to build a $500 billion economy by 2040, recognises the significant contribution that the creative industries can make to achieving this ambition. The strategy identifies sectors such as music, publishing, performing arts, design, film, television, gaming and multimedia as important drivers of future growth.
In the Nordic countries, we view the creative industries as powerful engines of innovation and development. They help build more inclusive societies, strengthen democratic participation and create opportunities for individuals to turn talent into livelihoods. The sector generates jobs, businesses and exports. Nordic success stories, from LEGO, ABBA and Björk to Spotify, Minecraft, Candy Crush Saga and, more recently, artists such as Laufey, have reached audiences around the globe, including here in Uganda. The lesson is clear: A country’s influence is not determined by its size, but by its ability to nurture talent, ideas and creativity.
The relationship between Uganda and the Nordic countries has long been built on a shared belief in human potential.
Signe Winding Albjerg
Partnerships
Uganda is already seeing the benefits of investing in these industries. The Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) notes that culture and the creative sector contributed 3.1 per cent of national GDP by 2022, providing more than 300,000 jobs and supporting over 12,400 small and medium-sized enterprises. Behind these numbers are people building careers, supporting families and contributing to their communities through their skills and talent.
Uganda also has many of the ingredients needed to become a leading creative hub. The country’s strong traditions of storytelling, music and dance are now complemented by a young generation that is increasingly global in outlook while remaining firmly rooted in local culture and identity.
With continued investment in supportive infrastructure and enabling policy frameworks, the creative industries can become an even greater source of employment, innovation and growth. Equally important is ensuring that young people have the space and freedom to share ideas, tell their stories and express themselves.
The relationship between Uganda and the Nordic countries has long been built on a shared belief in human potential. By investing in young people and supporting their creativity, we are investing in mutual prosperity and in a partnership that continues to grow stronger.
This article was jointly authored by Signe Winding Albjerg, Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda, Katrin Einarsdottir, Iceland Head of Mission in Uganda and Anna-Maria Olsson, Ambassador of Sweden to Uganda.