Next Media Services Group CEO, Kin Kariisa, on Friday 18th February, 2022, honoured an invitation from the Uganda National Cultural Centre – UNCC, to an event they had put together to mark the official re-opening of Uganda’s Arts and Culture sector following its close to 2-year closure.
The event, organised in partnership with the Embassy of France in Uganda, and the Chief Guest being H.E. Jules-Armand Aniambossou, the France Ambassador to Uganda, was attended by various dignitaries, who were treated to various acts and presentations from different artistes, including but not limited to Loius Muhereza, Quintet Band, Grace Flavia Ibanda, among others.
Kin Kariisa, accompanied for the event by Next Media Services Head of Brand and Communications, Desire Derekford Mugumisa, has overseen a partnership between Next Media Services and UNCC, which through the lockdown period, saw various Ugandan acts showcase in virtual concerts code-named UG Hope Concert on various Saturdays.
“Those concerts were a way of supporting a sleeping industry, well-knowing that for many of the individuals in the sector, the arts are their sole opportunity at earning a living,” Desire Derekford Mugumisa, also the Spokesperson of Next Media Services, states.
Mugumisa, however, adds, “These will not come to an end now that the economy is opened – the concerts and gig economy for the arts are now open, but at every given time, we shall continue to have millions tuned in to NBS Television, Sanyuka Television and the various partners we work with, and the UG Hope Concerts will serve those, while also being an extra source of income for artistes as the economy steadies up.”
Among the other guests in attendance were KCCA ED, Dorothy Kisaka, Operation Wealth Creation’s Ambassador Phillip Idro, and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Permanent Secretary, Aggrey Kibenge.