KISOZI, GOMBA DISTRICT – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged Shs5 billion to support organised content creators, framing the digital economy as a vital front in Uganda’s national campaign against poverty.
The announcement came during the second edition of “Jazz with Jajja,” hosted by the President and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni at their Kisozi ranch. The event brought together influencers, digital entrepreneurs, and journalists to discuss economic transformation and national values.
The Digital Evolution of Wealth
Responding to queries from prominent YouTuber Isaac Katende (Kasuku) regarding government collaboration with influencers, the President characterised content creation as the modern evolution of advertising.
“In the past, companies spent money on television and radio. Now, a layer of operators has emerged using social media to package products,” the President noted. “If you are organised, we shall support you. We will help improve both communication technology and operational capacity.”
The Shs5 billion commitment will be channelled through specialised SACCOs, mirroring support previously extended to the music industry.
A Strategy for Total Wealth Creation
President Museveni linked the rise of the “creative layer” to Uganda’s broader four-sector wealth creation model. He revealed that 70% of Ugandans have now joined the money economy, leaving a 30% gap that the government aims to close through grassroots financing.
“In this new kisanja (term), we must fight poverty; it is our biggest problem,” he stated. He urged youth to utilise “parish banks” created by the Parish Development Model (PDM), which injects Shs100 million per parish annually.
First Lady: Identity and Education as Liberation
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, delivered a stirring call for patriotism, urging youth to find opportunities at home rather than seeking them abroad.
“Africa has failed to develop because it always looks to other countries to do things for it,” she said. “We must be proud of being Ugandan. Confidence in our national identity is fundamental to transformation.”
She also highlighted the success of Uganda’s competency-based curriculum, noting that education should “liberate” students by encouraging projects and inquiry rather than colonial-style rote learning.
Youth Innovation in Action
The event featured practical success stories, such as entrepreneur Jackie Arinda, who uses TikTok and Instagram to market her coffee business directly to consumers. While celebrating such digital leaps, Arinda called for policy changes to integrate AI and drone systems into Ugandan business operations to meet international standards.
The “Ranch Edition” of Jazz with Jajja, coordinated by Natasha Museveni Karugire, concluded with a tour of the President’s ancestral Ekyigondo cattle herd, emphasising the link between heritage and modern enterprise.
