Government has pledged support to the family of the late Paul Kato Lubwama, and to ensure continuity of some of the projects he was working on in the creative arts.
The promise was made on Monday by government representatives who attended a special mourning session for the deceased held at the National Theatre in Kampala.
Gen Salim Saleh, the National Coordinator of the UPDF’s Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) delivered Shs 50 million to support the bereaved family and help with the burial expenses.
In a written message, Gen Saleh also pledged to ensure that Lubwama’s projects including his new play called “Ceasefire” carries on.
Lubwama was co-directing the play about the state of affairs in Uganda, with fellow performers Charles James Ssenkubuge and Phillip Luswata, which was set for launch in July.
The OWC coordinator, who is well known for his efforts to support the creative arts industry in Uganda, said Lubwama’s passing as a “great loss to the nation, especially coming at this time when we have been trying to revive the arts industry, and making sure that our artists don’t ever go through what they did during the Covid19.”
“We shall also remember him for his style of debate in parliament and his mobilizing skills without any political inclination,” added the General
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on the other hand informed the mourners about Government’s renewed commitment to support the arts industry. She said the Cabinet has already started studying a new law that will streamline the industry and ensure that artists earn more from their works.
The Premier praised the late Kato Lubwama for his straightforwardness and called upon other artists to emulate him.
“He used to always speak truth to power; he called a spade a spade and not a big spoon. If he wanted something, he said it to you. I am very sad that when he came to me looking for money recently, I was too busy to respond and now I have brought it when he’s not here to enjoy it,” said Nabbanja.
The Prime Minister made a personal contribution of Shs 5 million to the family of Lubwama and promised that her office will send in more to help with Wednesday’s burial in Nkozi.
