By Judith Ampaire
The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the European Union (EU) have launched a joint initiative known as ‘Opportunities are Here’ (OAH).
This project is touted as a business acceleration plan, focusing on nurturing the young talents within the Ugandan film sector. The objective is clear: to provide specialized mentoring, networking opportunities, and media exposure that will ostensibly catalyze growth, job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation within the beleaguered industry.
As the project was unveiled, ITC seemed enthusiastic about the immense potential lying dormant within the realm of Ugandan filmmaking. They pointed to several factors, including the proliferation of streaming platforms, the increasing affordability of digital equipment, and the promising prospect of generating youth employment, as key influencers behind the EU and ITC’s decision to back the industry’s development.
The project’s core strategy involves breathing new life into the Ugandan film sector by offering expert skills development and capacity-building programs for creative enterprises. The ultimate goal is to open doors to regional and international markets, thereby infusing the industry with a fresh wave of creativity and competition. In essence, ‘Opportunities are Here’ intends to nurture the talents of content creators and equip young creatives with the skills necessary to produce and promote high-quality original Ugandan content.
Furthermore, the project aspires to establish vital connections within the creative ecosystem, providing a gateway to global markets. In doing so, it aims to foster a stronger and internationally competitive film industry in Uganda. These aspirations are echoed by European Union Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Jan Sadek, who believes that the partnership can usher in a new era for Ugandan cinema.
However, with the Ugandan film industry having long grappled with challenges such as limited resources, lack of infrastructure, and weak institutional support, the success of this initiative is far from guaranteed. The grand vision painted by the ITC and the EU will need to navigate the challenging terrain of the Ugandan film sector, where issues like piracy, distribution hurdles, and fierce competition loom large.
As the ‘Opportunities are Here’ project unfolds, its impact will be closely scrutinized by industry observers, critics, and most importantly, the struggling filmmakers in Uganda who hope for a genuine transformation in their field. Can the ITC and EU truly breathe new life into the stagnant Ugandan film industry, or will ‘Opportunities are Here’ merely be another grand promise in an industry that has seen too many dreams go unfulfilled?