By Publicist East Africa
For years, Uganda’s creators have been visible, loud, influential, and culturally dominant, yet economically fragile. They shaped conversations, trends, and even elections. But when it came to structure, financing, and policy, the ecosystem lagged behind the talent. However, that gap is now closing.
On January 7, 2026, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, through the line minister, Hon. Peace Regis Mutuuzo, officially unveiled the implementation framework for the Creative Uganda Revolving Fund (CURF). This Shs28Bn financing mechanism is not just another government announcement; it is a strategic policy reset that validates the Bankable Creator movement, which was brought together recently at the Ongea Africa Digital Creators Summit.
Not a Handout But a System
The CURF is not charity or political patronage. As Hon. Mutuuzo emphasised at the Uganda Media Centre, it is a strategic intervention designed to provide affordable and patient financing to a sector historically excluded from traditional banking.
The Shs28Bn fund is anchored in a rigorous, dual-implementation structure that is meant to benefit the creatives as follows:
Shs5 Billion for Musician SACCOs under the Uganda National Music Federation (UNMF).
Shs5 Billion for Strengthening Copyright Management (including a new digital procurement system).
Shs18 Billion for the Other 9 Domains of the Creatives industry, including Film, Content Creation, Fashion, Software Innovation, and Culinary Arts.
Formalisation as a Prerequisite
It is important to note, however, that creatives can only access funds through registered, artist-led SACCOs, thereby turning hustlers into formalised entrepreneurs, which is another objective of the Ongea Digital Creators Summit.
Intellectual Property as Collateral
Also speaking to another objective of the Ongea Digital Creators Summit, Minister Mutuuzo revealed that the fund will pilot the use of Intellectual Property (IP) rights and verifiable digital records as collateral.
She noted that in simple terms, the government has finally said what creators have long argued: Creativity is capital, but only when structured.
Why This Moment Feels Familiar to Ongea
When Ongea Africa convened creators, regulators, and financiers in December 2025, the dominant questions were uncomfortable and overdue. The summit reframed the debate from “How do we get help?” to “How do we become bankable?”
In the same vein, CURF answers the questions posed at Ongea not rhetorically, but institutionally. The Ministry’s focus on ‘Interactive Media, Software, and Digital Innovation’ as a core domain directly echoes the Ongea sentiment that the digital economy is a pillar of national growth, not just entertainment.
From Noise to Nation-Building
The CURF framework is intentionally aligned with Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM) and NDP IV. By integrating creators into the Tenfold Growth Strategy, the government is acknowledging that music, film, content creation and digital media are now economic actors within Uganda’s development architecture.
The Ministry’s decision to disburse Shs9.5Bn immediately to implementing partners like UNMF, WALK SACCO, and UPRS signals that the era of hustling on vibes alone is ending. It is being replaced by a logic of accountability, repayment, and creditworthiness.
Convening Ahead of the Curve
At the center of this convergence sits Joseph Kanyamunyu, Convener of Ongea Africa and Founder of Publicist East Africa. Long before CURF was fully operationalised, Ongea was designed as a solutions forum; a translation layer, where regulators like the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Ministry officials could listen to creators without posturing.
The policy now emerging from the Ministry of Gender suggests a simple truth: Credible convening, disciplined dialogue, and intellectual honesty often shape policy long before policy admits it.
The next phase of Uganda’s creator economy will not be driven by who trends the most, but by who builds systems that last. As CURF rolls out, platforms like Ongea remain vital; not as stages, but as the intellectual infrastructure that ensures policy and practice stay aligned.