The just-concluded Primary Schools Music, Dance, Drama (MDD) and Poetry festivals in Nwoya and Buliisa districts lit up the Albertine Graben and reignited calls for more support to young people’s cultural expression.

The festivals, part of the Heritage Education Programme (HEP) by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) and TotalEnergies EP Uganda, drew only government schools at the district level, with private institutions conspicuously absent.
Buliisa District Sports Officer, Godfrey Muhumuza, hailed MDD as vital for pupils’ holistic growth, boosting confidence, creativity, and academic engagement. He criticised private schools for “hiding behind excuses” and warned that licenses could be revoked for refusing to participate. “The pupils in private schools are not private; they are Ugandan pupils and deserve these opportunities,” he said.
In Buliisa, the August 8th contest saw Biiso Primary School crowned champion with 1,124 points, followed by Kisansya (945) and Butiaba (921). In Nwoya (August 4–5), Anaka Central Primary School emerged top with 1,166 points, trailed by Alero (1,039) and Nwoya P7 (1,009).

Winners in both districts walked away with UGX 2 million each to prepare for regional contests, with additional UGX 2 million going to Anaka P7 School, last year’s national representative. The top three schools in each district also received full music costume sets.
This year introduced a People’s Choice Award for disadvantaged schools that reached district level, voted by festival audiences. Butiaba Primary (Buliisa) and Purongo P7 (Nwoya) each took home full music instrument sets.
District officials, including Nwoya’s Senior Inspector of Schools Boniface Acellam and Assistant RDC Michael Opwonya, expressed concern over private schools’ absence, despite the Ministry of Education’s emphasis on MDD as part of the curriculum.
According to CCFU’s Heritage Trust Programme Manager, Simon Musasizi, MDD and heritage clubs not only preserve culture but also keep children in school. “Some learners who may struggle academically excel in creative disciplines, making school more engaging and reducing dropouts,” he said.
The CCFU–TotalEnergies partnership began in 2021 under the company’s CSR “Action for Sustainability” campaign, starting with the “Culture for Livelihoods” project. Since then, HEP has trained 155 heritage club patrons, established 56 clubs, and provided costumes, instruments, and micro-grants. The clubs have boosted skills, fostered identity, promoted social cohesion, and opened doors to the creative industries for young people.
“Heritage clubs and events like MDD are powerful platforms for self-expression and talent development,” Musasizi added. “When we invest in them, we invest in our future.”