PANAF partners jointly launch Research Program on Artistic Rights & Freedom

Artistes under Pearlwood together with those from Uganda Musicians Association signed an understanding with FHRI – Foundation for Human Rights Initiative to jointly achieve the task of Fighting for Artistic Rights and Freedom.

The 3 bodies jointly make up the PANAF Uganda Chapter.  PANAF stands for Pan African Network for Artistic Freedom and is a network-building initiative initiated by Selam, a cultural organisation that has worked for over 20 years in cultural development and development with offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Sweden. Funded by the Swedish Arts Council, this initiative seeks to create a Pan-African inclusive voice for organisations connecting African artists and culture producers defending artistic freedom.

During the press briefing at the National Theatre later in the week, the team launched a Research Project started on last month to find out the problems faced by the Art and Creatives sector and to offer lasting possible solutions to them.

” The research shall be in three aspects that is Artistic Rights & Freedom amongst Artistes, The general Legal Environment for Artistic Rights & Freedom and lastly Gender aspects within the Creative Sector all led by Dr Muhumuza Micheal, Ms Josephine Kakunda and Mr Aggrey Tumuhimbise respectively” said Counsel Deric Namakajo, the General Secretary of PANAF Uganda.

Being a consortium of Musicians, filmmakers and legal practitioners, PANAF aims at a thorough needs assessment on the status of Artistic rights and freedom in Uganda and the Research set to take 3 months aims at achieving this.

Mzee Julius Bwanika, the Chairman of PANAF Uganda chapter asked all stakeholders and artistes to offer all needed information for smooth running of this research. ” We call upon all stake holders not limited to Film makers, Actors, Actresses, musicians, content creators, producers, legislators and leaders in all spheres to work with us in ensuring an all-inclusive based research.” he said!

The General Secretary of UMA, Phina Mugerwa alias Phina Masanyalaze who sits on the PANAF Uganda executive committee is hopeful that PANAF will do what other earlier bodies failed to do and urged all musicians to work with them for a unified goal.

“This Research aims at reaching all the 15 clusters of UMA across the country and with a legal team, we have shifted our verbal wars to papers. I, therefore, urge all musicians in the country to collaborate with PANAF because this helps us all,” she said.

During the same press briefing, the PANAF Uganda chapter Executive committe was unveiled. It consists of Representatives from partnering bodies and a representative of the Journalists.