Part 2 - Uganda, An Entrepreneur’s Canvas: How Ugandans are Molding and Painting the Future

One of the world’s greatest natural wonders, Lake Victoria, is now home to Uganda’s first Academy of Art and Design. One that could become the model art academy in Africa..

This upcoming March the doors to the Nagenda International Academy of Art Design (NIADD) officially open. Fortunately for me, I know the visionary behind NIAAD. He is one of the very first people I met in Uganda in 2003 and has provided wisdom and inspiration to me, hundreds of others from within and outside of Uganda. His name is Dr. Kizito Maria Kasule, he is 36 years old, and born in the Masaka District of Uganda. When I describe his work to friends and potential buyers, I call him the “Picasso of Africa.”



From extremely humble beginnings as a street child to earning a PhD and teaching at the Makerere University, Kizito has made a name for himself as one of Africa’s Premiere artists. His oil paintings are in the homes of many distinguished diplomats, in hotel and bank lobbies, owned by development agency staff and in the dorm rooms and apartments of US university students. However, as impressive this may be, Kizito is always teaching, always creating and remains relentless in his dream to create the model African Academy for Art and Design for university age students.


This dream is the culmination of just 2.5 years of taking virtually every Uganda Shilling, Euro and US dollar from his paintings sold to lay (brick-by-brick) the foundation for the Nagenda International Academy of Art and Design.

Walking through the halls of Kizito’s nearly complete school on the shores of Lake Victoria reminded me of why I have so much hope for Uganda and Africa’s future. Essentially, the students and children that will enter the halls of Nagenda in 2008 will enter as students of art, and leave as artists that contribute to the re-birth and growth of Uganda.

Realizing that creative energy may be stifled within the walls of conventional primary and university institutions, Kizito believes in offering an environment where students are free to express themselves, collaborate on projects and have the physical space to paint, sculpt, dream and take their art to the local and international markets. The curriculum will include art history, cultural literature, oil painting, sculpting, textile design, and the school will embrace the power of ICT through graphic and web-design course work.



Another unique feature of Nagenda includes opening up the academy to street and other vulnerable children between the ages of 8 – 15 years. Each month, children will come to Nagenda and will learn art from Kizito and the admitted students.

Why is he doing this? Kizito believes in the power of African Youth and that artists have the capacity to paint a brighter future for Uganda, but that they are stifled with the current education system.

However, most interesting to me is that NIADD steps outside the conventional, antiquated education practices in Uganda. While primary and secondary education is free to Ugandans, and this is a step in the right direction, a place like NIADD will encourage and enhance Uganda by being student-centered.

NIADD also wants to build new connections and networks with Universities around East Africa, Africa and internationally. These networks could help to facilitate international student and teaching exchange programs. These could also help the youth better understand global issues. Moreover, the prospects for relationships with universities and linking with foundations could mean art fellowships and study abroad courses for Ugandans in New York, Paris, and Rome. This type of exchange would go beyond the headlines of “what you think you know about Africa,” these art ambassadors will showcase a new Africa.

NIAAD is truly a dream that is being realized. And, while there is a lot of re-beautification of Kampala going on for CHOGM, I found real beauty during the few hours I spent with Kizito near the shores of Lake Victoria at NIAAD. If Kizito has anything to do with it, Uganda will become the epicenter for social change through art in Africa.