For years, Uganda’s creative industry has asked for one thing above all else: recognition backed by resources.
Musicians, filmmakers, comedians, fashion entrepreneurs, visual artists and digital creators have repeatedly argued that while the sector contributes to employment, culture and national identity, government support has often remained limited to rhetoric and policy promises.
The FY2026/27 National Budget suggests that may finally be changing.
While Finance Minister Henry Musasizi’s budget speech did not provide a standalone allocation specifically labelled “creative arts” or “creative industries”, it nevertheless contained one of the most significant financial commitments the sector has received in recent years — a Shs33 billion revolving fund for musicians and other creatives.
The announcement signals a growing recognition of the creative economy not merely as a cultural sector, but as an enterprise-driven industry capable of generating jobs, incomes and economic growth.
From recognition to financing
Presenting the budget before Parliament, Musasizi announced that government had provided Shs33 billion to establish a revolving fund for musicians and other creatives.
The fund is intended to promote enterprise growth and job creation by providing access to financing for practitioners who have historically struggled to secure affordable capital from traditional financial institutions.
Creative businesses often operate outside conventional lending frameworks, with many artists lacking the collateral demanded by commercial banks. As a result, projects ranging from music production and filmmaking to fashion manufacturing and digital content creation have frequently depended on personal savings, sponsorship arrangements and informal borrowing.
The revolving fund seeks to address that challenge by treating creatives as entrepreneurs whose work can be developed into sustainable businesses.
Building on existing support
The latest allocation builds upon the Uganda Creatives Revolving Fund initiative that government has been implementing over the past year.
According to the budget speech, by December 2025, government had already disbursed approximately Shs18.99 billion to 50 SACCOs composed of musicians and other creative practitioners.
The intervention had reached 3,047 beneficiaries, the majority of them young people.
The additional Shs33 billion therefore represents an expansion of a programme that has already moved beyond policy discussions and into implementation.
For many within the industry, that distinction matters.
Unlike previous years when support mechanisms largely existed as proposals, the current budget points to actual funds being deployed and additional resources being committed.
The creative economy inside a bigger growth agenda
Beyond the revolving fund, the FY2026/27 budget positions creative industries within Uganda’s broader Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) framework.
Government allocated approximately Shs1.14 trillion to the STI sector, which encompasses ICT, innovation systems and creative industries.
Although the budget speech does not provide a detailed breakdown showing exactly how much of that allocation is earmarked for creatives, the sector’s inclusion within the STI ecosystem reflects an evolving policy approach.
Traditionally, arts and culture have been discussed largely as social and cultural activities. Increasingly, however, government language places creative enterprises alongside technology, innovation and industrial growth initiatives.
The shift suggests that creative work is being recognised not only for its cultural value, but also for its economic potential.
Musicians, filmmakers, designers, performers and digital creators are increasingly being viewed as contributors to productivity, entrepreneurship and employment creation.
Copyright reform gains momentum
Another important area highlighted in the budget is intellectual property protection.
Government pointed to the enactment of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Act, 2025, which seeks to strengthen protection of creative works and improve the ability of artists to earn from their intellectual property.
For decades, piracy has remained one of the most persistent complaints from creators across Uganda’s music, film and performing arts sectors.
Artists have often argued that their works enjoy widespread consumption while delivering limited financial returns because of weak enforcement mechanisms and unauthorised usage.
The amended law is expected to strengthen royalty collection systems and enhance protections for rights holders.
For the creative industry, improved copyright enforcement could ultimately prove as valuable as direct financing, since it addresses the long-standing challenge of monetising creative output.
A dedicated home for creatives
The budget speech also reaffirmed government’s commitment to establishing a permanent home for Uganda’s creative community.
Musasizi revealed that government is finalising the acquisition of a facility that will serve as a dedicated centre for creative artists.
While details are yet to be publicly released, the proposed facility is expected to support training, production, collaboration and business development.
For years, industry stakeholders have advocated for a national creative hub capable of nurturing talent and supporting professional growth across multiple disciplines.
More than symbolic inclusion
Although questions remain about the absence of a standalone budget vote for the arts, it would be inaccurate to suggest that the sector was overlooked.
Instead, the budget reflects a model in which government support is increasingly being channelled through targeted interventions rather than a dedicated ministry allocation.
The revolving fund, copyright reforms, creative hub initiative and inclusion within the broader STI framework collectively indicate that the sector is becoming more visible within national economic planning.
Uganda’s creative economy supports thousands of young people directly and indirectly across music, film, fashion, events, visual arts and digital content.
For years, creatives argued that recognition without resources amounted to symbolism.
This year’s budget does not answer every challenge facing the industry. But with Shs33 billion committed to musicians and other creatives, the conversation may finally be shifting from promises to implementation.
The question now is whether those interventions will be enough to unlock the full potential of Uganda’s creative economy.
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