On Friday, musician Moses Ssali, known as Bebe Cool, took an oath of allegiance as he was sworn in as a member of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) Board of Trustees.
Alongside Bebe Cool, other recently approved members of the UNCC Board of Trustees were also sworn in at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. This new board will serve for the next three years.
The appointment comes after the previous board’s mandate expired in June of last year.
The newly appointed board members include Prof. Okaka Opio as Chairperson, singer Phina Mugerwa as Vice Chairperson, Hannington Bugingo, Lillian Mbabazi, Dr. Richard Komakech, Joseph Mayanja (singer Chameleon), Moses Ssali (singer Bebe Cool), and Juliana Naumo as members.
In February of this year, the UNCC appointed new members to its board of trustees, with the names this time being more familiar to the art community compared to before.
The key role of the new board of trustees will be to ensure that artists across the country, not just in Kampala, are organized.
Music analysts believe that it is important for artists to be at the helm of UNCC because they understand the challenges faced by artists better than anyone else.
According to the Ministry, the new board of trustees for UNCC reflects the Cultural Heritage and the demographic landscape, with the majority being young people.
“The new Board consists of prominent figures in the Arts and Culture, and we have no doubt that each member will bring a unique set of skills and experiences that will contribute to the success of UNCC in fostering cultural exchange and artistic expression,” said the Ministry in a statement.
The Ministry recognizes the critical role of UNCC in promoting our diverse Cultural Heritage, and the new board is expected to provide strategic policy direction for the cultural sector, support artists’ contributions to national development, and strengthen governance within the cultural community.
“We hope that the board of trustees will build upon the success achieved by the outgoing board, including plans to establish theatres and cultural centres in various regions, promote and develop cultural and artistic activities, and accommodating societies, groups, and organizations with cultural, artistic, philanthropic, or educational purposes,” the Ministry stated.
This article first appeared on Nile Post