Afromobile lauded as Kin Kariisa vouches for Uganda's creative industry at UNAA
Speaking at the Technological Forum during the Ugandan North America Association (UNAA) convention, Kariisa outlined ambitious plans to commercialize Ugandan entertainment content.
Washington DC, USA | Uganda's burgeoning creative industry is on the brink of a major transformation, according to Kin Kariisa, the Group CEO of Next Media.
Speaking at the Technological Forum during the Ugandan North America Association (UNAA) convention, Kariisa outlined ambitious plans to commercialize Ugandan entertainment content.
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Mr Kariisa revealed that Next Media is actively working to commercialise this content through the launch of Ugatunes, a platform that will be integrated into Afromobile, Next Media's digital streaming service.
"We are signing up all the movie producers to onboard them on Afro Mobile," Kariisa said, outlining plans to elevate the platform to the level of global giants like Netflix.
This move aims to provide a seamless way for Ugandans, including those in the diaspora, to access high-quality content from local artists, television, and filmmakers.
Kariisa highlighted the rapid growth in Uganda's content creation sector, driven largely by a youthful population.
"Out of 46 million people, 40 million are under 40," he emphasized, noting the immense potential of this demographic to drive growth.
Uganda currently boasts 16 million smartphone users, with this number growing by 20% annually, providing a vast audience for digital content.
Kariisa also called for stronger legal protections for creatives in Uganda. "We need laws that protect the creatives," he urged, warning that without proper legislation, the country's creative potential could be squandered.
"If they don’t get protected, it will go to waste."
He extended an invitation to collaborate, expressing openness to new ideas and solutions that could further enhance the creative industry in Uganda.
"We are open to discussion for more ideas; if you have solutions we can use, we can work together."
The forum underscored Uganda’s readiness to harness technological advancements, positioning the country as a rising hub for digital content creation and distribution in Africa.
