Police have on Saturday closed all routes that connect to Kampala Road. From Fido dido to the Jinja Road traffic lights, roads are only accessible by pedestrians.
This has been done to pave way for the 3rd edition of the Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni Festival (JAMAFEST), a carnival aimed at promoting regional socio-cultural integration through arts and culture by providing a regional platform to showcase culture as a prime driver of EAC integration.
The week long event is expected to attract cultural dancers and exhibitors from Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, running under the theme; “ Culture and creative industries: An Engine for unity and Employment Creation”.
Speaking ahead of the festival, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo disclosed that the 2017 Festival’s main venue will be Kololo Ceremonial Grounds where the main stage for cultural performances, the exhibition and market place will be located.
The subsidiary venues include Uganda National Cultural centre where specialized shows including film festival, comedy and drama will be conducted. Hotel Africana will host the Symposium, fashion show and the closing Dinner gala.
A press statement from the organizers reveals that two successful editions of Jamafest have been held so far.
The 1st Edition was held in February, 2013 in Kigali, Rwanda under the theme : “Fostering the East African Community Integration through Cultural Industries”. The 2nd edition of the Festival was hosted by the Republic of Kenya at the at Kenyatta International convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2015 under the theme “Unleashing the Economic Potential of Cultural and Creative industries in the EAC”.
Current situation in Kampala on Saturday Morning.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
