The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has lauded the success of the 12th edition of the Uganda Film Festival (UFF), held between May 26 and June 6, 2025, calling it a powerful testament to the growth and resilience of Uganda’s creative industry.
Speaking at a celebratory breakfast meeting in Kampala, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Tembo expressed gratitude to the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, sponsors, service providers, and film stakeholders for their contributions.
“This year’s festival brought together over 30,000 Ugandans through screenings, workshops, and forums. It showcased the immense talent in this country and the transformative power of storytelling,” he said.
Julianne Mweheire, Director for Economic Regulation, Content & Consumer Affairs at UCC, emphasized the need for strategic investment to sustain this momentum.
“Just as Uganda is known for its coffee because of deliberate investments, we must now build a strong infrastructure and distribution framework for our creative sector. Strategy, project financing, skilling, and partnerships are key.”
Actress and film director Irene Kulabako reflected on the festival’s growth from struggling to source films in its early days to receiving over 360 entries in 2025, including regional submissions. She praised UCC’s Content Development Support Programme (CDSP) and welcomed the introduction of the Rising Star Award, which celebrates young actors.
Kulabako made passionate appeals to UCC and its partners: “We need help accessing markets. Our films are ready, and numbers are growing, but without proper distribution and marketing, creators cannot earn from their work.”
She also urged broadcasters to give local content more visibility and proposed expanding the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor veterans from other art forms like theatre and music, which laid the groundwork for today’s film industry.
All speakers echoed a shared vision: Uganda’s creative sector holds enormous potential to shape national identity, drive youth employment, and boost tourism. But that growth, they agreed, must be intentional.
“We’re no longer scrambling,” said Mweheire. “We’re organizing. We’re building. Let’s not let this be accidental growth. Let’s build deliberately, together.”
As the curtains fall on UFF 2025, the call is clear—invest, collaborate, and celebrate Ugandan stories not only on local screens but on global stages.