To hell with your “redevelopment” –Artistes tell government

By Watch-dog corps
Artistes have distanced themselves from the planned National Theatre Re-development claiming that it is a would be ill measure packed up with ill- intentions towards National theatre Land.
Speaking, in a consultation meeting held at National theatre Artistes through their famed crusade dubbed #saveUncc asked National theatre manager Peter Francis Ojede and UNCC board to tell the ministry that they are not willing to accept any form of re-development saying it is ill intended.
In a meeting Artist Jack Sserunkuuma noted that many public properties have been lost in the name of (PPP) Public Private Partnership citing the Nakivubo stadium scuffle, Shimon Land among others.
Artistes also resolved to sue whoever attempts to make any development on theatre land saying that they are ready to look for funds and redevelop the theatre in an artistic manner by rehabilitating the current facility, re-install modern seats and lights among others.
The artists also moved that the National theatre land titles get to be caveated to clear the air on the alleged sell.
On Wednesday, Ugandan artistes and performers converged at the National Theatre, bent on staging a strike to prevent a take-over of the premises by the Government. In the process, one of Uganda’s leading actors, Peter Luswata, was arrested. But not before they won a reprieve to meet the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to discuss the matter.
After a brief one-hour incarceration at the Central Police Station (CPS), Luswata said that he had “already won because his voice has since been heard, maintaining that for years the artistes voice ignored by the ministry and UNCC management.” He added that both the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) and the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) Board have always claimed that they are in meetings with artistes on the issue of re-development, but have they, the true artistes, have never been consulted.