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KAMPALA – Visual arts are one of the best tools in conveying messages to the public, as evidenced at the opening of the third edition of the human rights festival.
The five-day event was launched at Xenson Artspace in Kamwokya Wednesday by the new president of the Uganda Law Society, Isaac Semakadde, who said that art is one of the best ways of fighting social injustices.
“The job of fighting social injustices is for everyone. Artists like other people also have a right to use their creativity through paintings and drawings to advocate for the marginalized and oppressed groups of people in society,” he said.
He called for laws that can help promote art in Uganda and suggested that it should be made mandatory for all buildings in Uganda to exhibit Ugandan-made art and crafts.
“If there was a law that compelled building owners to have Ugandan-made art and crafts, then our artists would be making a killing for their creativity and I wish such an idea can be implemented because the biggest challenge these artistes are facing is lack of market for their products,” he said.
Journalist Daniel Lutaaya moderating with a panel of experts about human rights in Uganda. (Credit: Alfred Byenkya)
The theme of the festival was “Where is Home”, with a specific emphasis on rights of refugees living in and outside Uganda.
Semakadde said that being a refugee forced him to come back home and fight for his rights using legal means.
“I lived in exile for four years since the start of COVID-19 lockdown. I became a victim of persecution because I was fighting for the freedoms of the other oppressed Ugandans. For the first half of 2024, I was a refugee living in Bukoba, Tanzania despite having a home in Kamwokya,” he said.
The executive director of the East Africa Visual Arts Vincent Kyabayinze explained that migration is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon driven by various factors that compel individuals and communities to leave their homes in search of a better life.
Climate change, wars, poverty, oppressive laws, and cultural and social pressures are among the primary forces behind this movement.
“This festival seeks to explore and address these social injustices within our society, providing a platform for dialogue, advocacy, and change,” said Kyabayinze.
