SPICE Project members posing for a group photo after the launch at Media Challenge Initiative premises in Kampala ( Photo / MCI)
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KAMPALA- The Creative arts and movie Industry in Uganda is growing and improving steadily compared to the past decades despite the challenges that the industry faces. 

Of late, there is a lot of good content, quality production,  scripts, animations and other innovations to the extent  that they can be displayed on the international scene which is a manifestation that we have great talented individuals joining the sector  which was not the case back then.

In efforts to boost the sector, the French Embassy in Uganda through the Team France Creation Fund (FEF- Creation) has supported the initiative with funds worth 418,994 (Euros).

This funding and partnership was announced at the Grand launch of Structures Professionalizing and Innovations Creative Enterprises (SPICE) at the Media Challenge Initiative premises along Ggaba Rd.

The 17 months initiative is aimed at shaping the landscape of the Creative industry to develop top notch and attractive content that cuts across all spheres at the same time benefit young talent, creating jobs and amplifying the cultural aspect.

H.E , Xavier Sticker, the French Ambassador to UGANDA making remarks at the launch.( Photo /MCI)

It is majorly going to work with six already established partners  such as Kiasi Productions, Richard Musinguzi Studio, Alliance Francaise de Kampala( AFK), Keepers Extended  Reality, Pearl Rhythm Foundation and Arudem an E – gaming Enterprise.

On the side of the beneficiaries, Samuel Tebandeke, Chief Executive Officer and Co- founder, KIASI Productions, said that he was happy that the French Embassy in Uganda has got board after working with the one in Kenya.

He also noted that as a content creator one of the things he observed was lack of opportunity for story tellers to have a platform to share their work all over the world which the SPICE Project is doing.

Susan Kerunen, Co- founder, Pearl Rhythm Foundation explaining about the Virtual Museum they intend to work on ( Photo / MCI)

Susan Kerunen, Co – founder Pearl Rhythm Foundation asserted that they are going to create content and they will majorly focus on the minority cultures like the, Batwa, Keebu where she come from  others so that they can leave a digital footprint for the next generations to have their history about  culture, adding that they are looking forward to having  the first virtual museum in East Africa  after working tirelessly for the last 13 years.

Abaas Mpindi, CEO & Co- founder, Media Challenge Initiative congratulated the six presenters and urged them to work more on collaboration  since they have got an opportunity to work together through SPICE.

The French Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Xavier Sticker said” I salute members of the Initiative and I thank my team that has been in communication with you to make it happen.  The Creative industry in France has a turnover of about €92 billion and this shows the magnitude of the creative sector in terms of employment and revenue to the country”.

He explained that since the population of Uganda  is young and  about  8,000 are in the cultural and creative industry, it is one of the major pillars they are supporting such projects that are aimed at skilling , developing talent , creating opportunities for all of them and embracing the rich cultural diversity between Uganda and France.

Samuel Tebandeke , CEO & Co founder ,Kiasi Productions making his presentation at the launch of the SPICE( Photo/MCI)

More to add, the SPICE Project will also amplify partnerships like the KATOTO and GOBELINS Paris through conducting high quality intensive trainings in animation, Arudem Gaming Tournament  which will have coding courses and  an E- sport tournament  inclusive of women, Keepers of the Forest – show casing Uganda’s natural heritage through a virtual reality to attract more tourists (Batwa Legacy).