Stakeholders in Uganda’s creative industry have called on government to address high export costs, taxation and limited access to raw materials, saying the challenges are preventing creative entrepreneurs from competing in international markets.
The concerns were raised as 12 creative entrepreneurs graduated from the first cohort of the year-long Koola Kampala business incubation programme.
Bold in Africa Managing Director and Koola Kampala Project Lead Nunu Mugyenyi Kalisa said the high cost of exporting products remains one of the biggest obstacles facing Uganda’s creative businesses.
“The cost of getting your products out is sometimes more expensive than the product itself,” Kalisa said.
She said varying tariffs across export markets make it difficult for entrepreneurs to plan international trade, while rising raw material costs continue to squeeze already thin profit margins.
Kalisa also urged government to review taxation of the creative sector, arguing that blanket taxes do not reflect the unique nature of creative enterprises.
“Some taxes should vary accordingly,” she said, adding that the organisation had already engaged tax authorities on the matter.
She further noted that despite Uganda being a major cotton producer, many local creatives struggle to source locally produced cotton and other raw materials needed to manufacture Ugandan-made products.
Kalisa called for stronger government support and collaboration with stakeholders to improve access to raw materials and expand programmes that support creative enterprises.
The remarks came as Africalia and Bold in Africa concluded the first edition of the Kula Kampala incubation programme, which provided business training, mentorship and seed funding to 12 entrepreneurs operating in the cultural and creative industries.
Africalia Programme Manager Magalie Kisukurume said the participants received training in business management, financial planning, intellectual property rights, taxation, branding, marketing and resource mobilisation.
“We have coached, trained and mentored 12 entrepreneurs in different creative fields over the last year, and today we are celebrating the closure of the programme,” she said.
Kisukurume said many creatives possess artistic talent but lack the business skills needed to build sustainable enterprises.
She identified limited access to finance as another major challenge facing the sector, saying few financial products are tailored to cultural and creative businesses.
Beyond training, participants also received seed funding to help implement their business ideas.
Kisukurume said Africalia intends to expand the programme through three additional cohorts between 2027 and 2031, subject to funding approval from its Belgian development partner.
She urged creative entrepreneurs to combine creativity with sound business management to build resilient enterprises capable of creating jobs and contributing to Uganda’s economy.
