Popstar turned legislator Racheal Magoola has called on the government to formally recognise and support the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) as a distinct and vital pillar of the country’s economy.
Speaking to a cross-section of stakeholders from government, civil society, and the creative community at the Creative Economy Validation Dialogue in Kampala on Tuesday, Magoola underscored the urgent need for structural and institutional reforms to integrate the creative industry into Uganda’s national trade, innovation, and investment frameworks.
“For too long, agriculture has been hailed as the backbone of our economy. But today, the creative sector represents the largest and most dynamic contributor in terms of population and potential,” Magoola said.
“We must treat it as such.”
Citing research conducted in collaboration with the African Creative Alliance, Bugweri Woman MP Magoola pointed to a glaring gap in Uganda’s economic planning—the absence of a facilitative governance model for the creative industry.
She noted that despite numerous government reports on the economy, the creative sector continues to be overlooked in a meaningful and measurable way.
To address this, she proposed the establishment of a dedicated ministry or an autonomous agency under an existing ministry, complete with a designated budget line.
This, she argued, would allow creatives to effectively coordinate across government departments, access funding, and avoid being sidelined as “unfunded priorities.”
Magoola also stressed the importance of policy clarity and institutional visibility.
She called for deliberate strategies to support the sector through education reforms, legal recognition of creative work, targeted investments, and accessible public funding.
One of the most pressing issues, according to the legislator, is the lack of national data to measure the creative industry's contribution to Uganda’s GDP, employment rates, and innovation metrics.
Without such data, creatives remain invisible in economic planning and miss out on critical opportunities.
She further urged the government to integrate CCI into broader national innovation and science policy ecosystems, include creatives in international trade missions, and create mechanisms for public accountability regarding how funds are allocated to the sector.
“Uganda’s creatives must not be left behind in our national development plans,” Magoola said.
“I remain committed to working with all stakeholders to bridge the current policy and data gaps and to ensure that the creative industry receives the recognition and support it rightly deserves.”
Her remarks have reignited conversations around the role of the arts and culture in national development, with many stakeholders echoing her call for a more structured and supportive environment for the creative economy in Uganda.