Last night, I attended “The Afrigo Band Orchestra Experience” at UMA Multi-Purpose Hall, where I was invited as the chief guest. I witnessed something significant. The show powerfully reminded me of the vibrant artistic tapestry that defines our nation, especially through its wonderful blend of contemporary young talent and sounds rooted in our heritage. We have all kinds of music tribes in this country, but there are two that we haven’t allowed to grow. One is choral music, which I’ve seen my friend Sir Paul Ssaaka of Buddo Secondary School working on. The other is classical music, which I know people are making an effort to promote, including Namirembe Cathedral and Cachemco Choir. But the issue of symphonies or orchestras has been overlooked. When notable guests attend high-profile functions, not having a symphony or orchestra as a country can make us look a bit bizarre in diplomacy and hospitality. A very formal function feels incomplete without a symphony. These orchestras sometimes try to capture the cultural mood of the place. In China, for example, they perform distinctly Chinese tunes in a very classical style; the same is true in Russia and the Western world. So, last night, when I saw these young people from Pearl Music playing alongside the legendary Afrigo Band, I saw the connection: Afrigo links to what has been missing: an orchestra and classical music. This unforgettable collaboration bridges a vital gap in our cultural landscape, blending classical instrumentation with rich Indigenous sounds to create a truly full-bodied musical masterpiece. Moments like these showcase the immense potential of our creative sector and affirm the importance of nurturing diverse musical genres. They inspire a shared vision of classical music and symphonic excellence finding a permanent, celebrated place in our national repertoire. My heartfelt congratulations to the Pearl Symphony, the legendary Afrigo Band, @KCCAUG for their support, and everyone whose dedication made this wonderful evening possible.

I had a wonderful conversation with artist Nina Kankunda, aka Nina Roz, ahead of her upcoming "Sound of a Dream" concert, scheduled for 11th December 2026 at the Hockey Grounds, Lugogo. We had an inspiring conversation about the growth, discipline, and immense potential of our music industry. I encouraged our artists to approach their craft with the utmost seriousness and professionalism, because when music is treated as a serious business, the rewards are limitless. We are committed to supporting our artists and creators, and the broader digital and creative economy, as they build sustainable careers and showcase Ugandan talent to the world.

Today, we at @UCC_Official, under #UCUSAF, were honoured to convene a landmark Stakeholder Dialogue on Strengthening Uganda’s Digital Skills Ecosystem, in partnership with the British Council @BritishCouncil, the British High Commission, and UK International Development. As we celebrate 25 years of extending communications to underserved communities, our focus is evolving. While infrastructure remains crucial, Uganda’s primary bottleneck today is the usage gap. We have vast network capacity across the nation, but we must ensure every Ugandan has the skills and confidence to use it productively. Through deliberate digital skilling interventions, #UCUSAF has directly impacted thousands of lives across Uganda. Targeted digital skills training has empowered over 13,000 women, and grassroots digital skilling initiatives have reached over 11,000 rural community members, including farmers, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Again, we have equipped over 6,000 young people with ICT and multimedia skills for the modern economy, and trained 5,000+ micro, small, and medium enterprises across 20 districts to use digital tools to manage records, expand market reach, and access digital financial services. ICT skilling for teachers and the establishment of ICT clubs in schools have also fostered a culture of innovation and learning. Moving beyond basic digital literacy (navigating apps and search engines), our goal is to build digital skills for employability and enterprise development. Connective infrastructure fulfils its promise only when teachers can deliver richer lessons, farmers can access market prices, and young people secure job opportunities. No single institution can bridge this gap alone. By pooling our strengths across government, telecom operators, tech companies, and civil society, we can make digital literacy more inclusive, practical, and sustainable for all Ugandans. We were particularly privileged to be joined by Hon. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo @Hon_Ssebugwawo, Minister of State for ICT, and by partners from NITA-Uganda @NITAUganda1, academia, the private sector, civil society, and our regulatory peers from Kenya. Thank you to all stakeholders for joining us in building a digitally empowered Uganda.