Itumbi Apologizes Over Butere Girls Drama Festival Controversy.
Dennis Itumbi, Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, criticized the decision to stop Butere Girls Secondary School from performing the play Echoes of War, terming it unwarranted. Appearing on the JKLive show, he clarified that his sentiments were personal, emphasizing that working within government does not mean uniformity in views across officials.
Itumbi explained that he aligned with those who believed the students should have been allowed to perform. He noted that there is a common misconception that government employees automatically support certain positions just because of their roles.
Playing devil’s advocate, he acknowledged the government’s stake in the drama festivals since it finances the entire event. Therefore, he noted, the government naturally expects to exercise some control over the content showcased.
“It was absolutely unnecessary to block the girls from performing. There’s an assumption that when you work for the government, you hold a certain position,” he stated.
Addressing the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regulations, Itumbi referred to the 2025 rules which require only registered teachers or tutors from accredited institutions to script plays for the festival.
He admitted that despite not being a registered teacher, he and others like Cleophas Malala engage in theatre out of passion, even though this technically breaches the law.
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According to Itumbi, the matter involving Butere Girls shifted from a theatrical concern to a school discipline issue when the students chose not to perform on stage. He clarified that the adjudicators did not bar the performance; rather, the students opted not to present the play themselves.
Echoes of War has stirred a national conversation due to its central theme, which portrays Generation Z rising up against an oppressive regime. This theme has drawn criticism from different quarters—some accused the government of attempting to suppress the performance, while others believed playwright Cleophas Malala used it as a political tool to settle scores.
Itumbi Apologizes Over Butere Girls Drama Festival Controversy.
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