Faisal Kiwewa's Bayimba Foundation: 15 Years of Cultural Activism in Uganda

In 2006, Faisal Kiwewa established the Bayimba Cultural Foundation to rejuvenate the arts in Uganda. Now, after 15 years, the foundation is involved in various disciplines, including theatre, music, film, and visual arts, aiding in social progress. Frustrated by the sector's challenges, Kiwewa organizes several festivals: DOADOA in May, High School Musical in June, the Bayimba International Festival in August, and the Amakula International Film Festival in November. The latter, initiated in 2004 by Alice and Lee, promotes local filmmaking. The Bayimba Academy has offered more than 3,200 training sessions for over 5,600 artists. Despite cultural rights being constitutionally recognized, only 0.03% of the national budget is dedicated to culture. Kiwewa also critiques the "NGO syndrome" and praises artists like Xenson Ssenkaba and Tereka Desire.