Threads of belonging: Where art meets human rights in Kampala

What the report says

Sqoop Uganda reports that the Human Rights Are Universal Arts Festival is returning to Xenson Art Space in Kamwokya, Kampala, for its fifth edition from October 9 to 17. The event is organized by East African Visual Artists (EAVA), led by founder and executive director Vincent Kyabayinze, and this year carries the theme “Threads of Belonging.” The festival uses art to open discussions on human rights, dignity, social justice and inclusion.

According to the publisher, the nine-day programme will bring together visual art, film, live performances, panel discussions, community engagement activities, an information exhibition, a health camp and a digital hub. One of the scheduled discussions is titled “Our Lives Online,” reflecting the festival’s focus on how technology, changing social habits and digital life affect identity, privacy and security. The visual arts residency exhibition will open on October 10 and remain on view through the rest of the festival.

Kyabayinze says the goal is to create a space where artists, civil society groups, young people and audiences can meet around issues that are often discussed without the people most affected being present. Sqoop Uganda says EAVA has used previous editions to combine creative work with rights-based messaging, including film and documentary projects that explore lived experience rather than labels. The festival’s broader significance, as presented in the article, is its effort to connect artistic expression with civic participation and community dialogue.