You are Uganda’s next millionaires, UCC boss Mutabazi tells filmmakers uff November 30, 2018 uffblog Despite the obvious abundance of talent and creativity, the local film industry is still yet to realize its full potential BY ROY RUVA “Yours is the biggest industry in the world because it is a multi-billion industry and in Uganda it is soon going to employ many people. With full government support, we’ll make this possible just like is the case in Nigeria,” Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director Godfrey Mutabazi remarked while officiating at the opening of the Uganda Film Festival 2018 on Monday. “The fact that this industry is built from the heart and developed with passion makes it a powerful one which can only thrive. Look at the Nigerian film industry; it has grown into a big multi-billion industry. Why can’t we emulate that? He queried. Mutabazi, who is the main host of the festival, told guests that he had a life changing experience when he visited Beverly Hills in Los Angeles – the home of Hollywood – in United States of America and was awestruck when he saw multi-billion investments and mansions. Mr Mutabazi said loal film industry players, such as this pair of stuntment seen at the ongoing UFF2018 film expo yesterday, are set to benefit from government support He said he was left in shock when he was told that the people who owned all those were the young people he saw in ‘torn jeans’; the ones who make movies and music. “So I can tell you that, you are the next millionaires of this country just like those I saw in Beverly Hills,” he assured the industry players present including film directors, writers, editors and actors among others. “We are going to build a film village for capacity building so that we can create employment and make sure our TV stations also create prime time in their programming for airing of local content. MultiChoice has already created a platform for local content which should be taken advantage of,” he added. An artisan poses with a cache of his home-made prop guns at the ongoing UFF 2018 Film Expo in Kampala The UCC boss also reiterated government’s commitment in supporting the industry which he said will be boosted with both public and private investment as well as capacity building initiatives such as trainings and workshops. As part of the festival activities, UCC is screening films in selected cinemas around Kampala for free. A total of close to 30 films are up against each other for top accolades come the award gala to be held at the Kampala Serena Hotel this Friday.
