MPs grill Gender Minister Mutuuzo

Members of Parliament have quizzed the State Minister for Gender Hon Peace Regis Mutuuzo over the reports that artistes Sophia Nantongo and Travis Kazibwe alias Dr. Tee fraudulently grabbed a music studio established by government at Mengo in Kampala to benefit all Ugandan artistes.

The Kawempe South MP Hon Bashir Kazibwe asked the Minister to explain the circumstances under which Nantongo and Kazibwe came to grab the studio which was meant to support all artistes.

In response, the Minister said that true several artistes have complained to the Ministry that they cannot access the studio yet it was fully funded by government to benefit; the Minister promised to investigate the matter.

Mutuuzo further revealed that government plans to seek funding from World Bank to train and arm Ugandan artists with technical skills so as to meet international standards.
“Most artists are self-made, there is abundance of talent but limited technical skills. Workforce training is a key need for the sector and some work has already started to bridge the skills gap among creatives. We have concluded on the plans to skill the creative artistes under MasterCard Foundation supported by the World Bank through the Growth Opportunities And Productivity For Women Enterprises (GROW) Project,” she noted.

She also noted that there are plans to establish a fund from which artists would access funds to boost and improve themselves financially; “As a government, we are planning to create a fund ring fenced to support the creative artistes considering the unique nature of their business. We also intend to moblize and attract financial products and partners to support the financing of the creative industry in Uganda,” said Mutunzo.