Uganda Railway Museum hosts the 4 th edition of Human Rights Are Universal ArtsFestival

On 25^th October 2025, the Uganda Railway Museum proudly hosted the 4^th edition of the Human Rights Are Universal Arts Festival, marking the first time the event was held out of Kampala City.

Organised by the East African Visual Artists (EAVA), the festival brought together artists, poets, students, and members of the Jinja community to celebrate art as a form of expression.  This transforming the museum grounds into a lively and colourful space filled with music, dance, and creative exhibitions.

This year’s festival ran under the theme “Defend”, with subthemes addressing climate change and the environment, discrimination and exclusion, democracy, and freedom of expression.

The festival featured live performances from artists across Eastern Uganda, and visitors were treated to an art exhibition and merchandise sale, featuring handcrafted pieces, paintings, and other artworks that reflected both the diversity and shared injustices of the region. The atmosphere was vibrant yet a reflective reminder that art is not only a form of expression but also a tool for advocacy and social change.

By showcasing these voices, the festival empowered the Jinja City community to celebrate Uganda’s rich artistic talent while reinforcing national values of dignity, unity, and freedom of expression.

Mr. Vincent Kyabayinze, the Founder of the Human Rights Are Universal Arts Festival, and the Chief Executive Director of the East Africa Visual Artists, appreciated the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda and the Uganda Railways Corporation for hosting this year’s festival at the Uganda Railway Museum. He emphasized that this year’s festival came at a critical moment when freedom of expression, justice, and the protection of human dignity were under growing strain globally.

“Our festival stands as a space where people can think, create, and express themselves freely. We challenge harmful narratives not through anger or violence, but through the transformative power of art,” he said.

Reflecting on the movement’s journey, Kyabayinze noted that East African Visual Artists began twelve years ago with the belief that art could be more than aesthetic, that it could serve as an instrument of truth and transformation. He urged Ugandans to embrace accountability and self-reflection in their daily lives, stressing that change begins with personal responsibility.

The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), represented by its Heritage Trust Programme Manager, Mr. Simon Musasizi, thanked the organisers of the festival (EAVA) for choosing the Uganda Railway Museum to host the event, highlighting that the festival is closely aligned with CCFU’s programme area on cultural rights promotion. He noted that culture is a human right, and that every individual has the freedom to access, express, and benefit from their cultural resources and identity.

“Culture is a human right; it shapes who we are, how we express ourselves, and how we connect with our communities. Defending human rights, therefore, includes defending cultural rights,” he stated.

About the Uganda Railway Museum

The Uganda Railway Museum is a national heritage institution established in 2022 by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Railways Corporation to safeguard our transport heritage. The museum is located in Eastern Uganda, Jinja City along the Jinja_Iganga highway at the Jinja Railway Station offering a wide range of programmes to both domestic and international tourists and it opens throughout the week, and on public holidays from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

By hosting the festival, URM opened its doors to the general public transforming its spaces into interactive hubs forperformances, exhibitions, and creative dialogue. The museum’s participation highlighted its growing role asa platform for cultural engagement and advocacy, demonstrating that heritage sites can be spaces not only for preservation but also forcommunity expression.

The collaboration between CCFU and the EAVA reinforced the museum’s efforts to make cultural resources accessible to all.