Ssebaggala Andrew Lwanga Jedidiah is a Ugandan creative arts producer and arts and culture management professional. He is the currently the Production Manager of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC), home to Uganda National Theatre and the National Art Gallery- Nommo Gallery. He is the Project Coordinator of the UNCC- Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI) Culture Project whose goal is to support the cultural ecosystem in Uganda. Andrew is a 2010 national prize winner of the prestigious Start Your Business Competition run by the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda in partnership with the World Bank, which enabled him to found House Of Talent East Africa Ltd, a creative enterprise, entertainment and performing arts company focused on Uganda cultural dances and contemporary presentations of  indigenous African expressive art forms through dance, music, poetry, theatre and film. He is a Co-Producer at Silent Voices Uganda and a Creative Enterprise Programme Workshop Associate with the British Council Uganda and Nesta-UK. From 2005-2010, Andrew was the National Coordinator with Uganda Theatre Network and the Eastern Africa Theatre Institute. He has managed a number of art related projects including Performing Arts Cooperation Between Sweden and Eastern Africa  funded by the Sida and UMOJA, the cultural Flying Carpet, funded by Norwegian Embassy in Uganda. He is a performing artist in his own right, specializing in Storytelling and Music Performance as an art form, where he uses storytelling and music to impact the communities around him.  

IVLP Impact Award Project: Innovative Arts Programming for Community Transformation 

The project empowers arts managers, creative producers, and curators in Uganda through innovative cross-cultural programming, fostering social change and community enrichment. A comprehensive skills enhancement workshop will be conducted for 20 participants involved in arts management, programming, and policymaking. The workshop focuses on developing entrepreneurial, management, and programming abilities critical for creating and promoting transformative cultural programs. Following the workshop, a five-month mentorship program provides tailored support to participants, encouraging continuous learning, fostering self-discovery, and promoting sustainable business practices within their creative enterprises. This initiative seeks to engage local government, NGOs, and the private sector in utilizing art for community education and transformation, thereby promoting local ownership and sustainability of cultural initiatives. 

In early November, Andrews will host a comprehensive skills enhancement workshop for 20 participants in arts management, programming, and policymaking at the Uganda National Cultural Center – Uganda National Theatre. While the selection process is still underway, 13 individuals from local government and the private sector individuals have expressed interest.

“I hope to inspire and empower our young social creative entrepreneurs and programmers with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to develop innovative arts programs that impact their immediate communities as well as enable them to create a network of art programmers, creative producers and curators.” - Ssebaggala Andrew Lwanga   

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Ssebaggala participated in the IVLP Project Promoting Social Change Through the Arts II organized by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City, Global Minnesota, Global New Orleans, Global Ties Detroit and World Affairs Council – Seattle.  

“My IVLP experience was nothing short of igniting, inspiring, challenging as well as empowering and transformational. It is the values from such an exchange that I would like to share with others in our bid to transform the culture and creative terrain in Uganda.” - Ssebaggala Andrew Lwanga   

U.S. Communities Visited   

Washington, DC; New Orleans, LA; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; New York City, NY; Seattle, WA 

Country: Uganda

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