On 21st December, the Ugandan film industry took a decisive step toward strengthened collaboration when the Producers Guild of Uganda held a closed-door strategic meeting with the founders of the iKON Awards and a team of legal professionals.

The meeting was convened as a deliberate effort to build alliances, explore partnership opportunities, and strengthen collaboration within Uganda’s growing film ecosystem. It brought together key stakeholders committed to shaping a more unified, sustainable, and professionally structured industry.

The discussions were led by Mathew Nabwiso, President of the Producers Guild of Uganda, who emphasized the need for industry players to move beyond silos and embrace collective growth.

“Our industry cannot grow in isolation. As producers, we believe that real progress comes when institutions work together, share knowledge, and protect the interests of creatives through strong partnerships,” Nabwiso noted during the meeting.

Representing the iKON Awards was its founder, Humphrey Nabimanya, who highlighted the importance of alignment between industry bodies, recognition platforms, and legal frameworks.

“The iKON Awards were built to celebrate excellence, but celebration alone is not enough. We must also invest in systems, collaborations, and partnerships that create long-term opportunities for filmmakers,” Nabimanya shared.

A key component of the meeting involved legal experts who guided discussions around partnership structures, intellectual property protection, governance, and sustainable collaboration models. These conversations were geared toward ensuring that future joint initiatives are legally sound, transparent, and beneficial to all stakeholders involved.

Participants explored opportunities for joint programming, co-branded industry initiatives, talent development platforms, and mechanisms that could enhance professional standards within the film sector. The engagement underscored the shared belief that collaboration rather than competition is essential for the industry’s advancement.

At the top, we don’t compete, we collaborate,” became the defining sentiment of the meeting, reflecting a collective commitment to unity and shared purpose.

The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding to further formalize the discussions into actionable partnerships in the coming months. Stakeholders expressed optimism that these collaborations would unlock new opportunities for filmmakers, strengthen institutional relationships, and contribute to the continued growth of Uganda’s film industry at both regional and international levels.