Theatre against corruption

Fred Munagomba Musisi runs IATM - 11 dance groups that perform plays against corruption in Uganda.

Fred Musisi from Theatre against Corruption, photo: Adam Amsinck

“Theatre can do much more than just entertaining. We try to change people’s behaviour and attitudes.”

Fred Munagomba Musisi, 37 years, leads the theatre group International Anti-Corruption Theatrical Movement (IATM) in Uganda. The troop altogether comprises eleven small groups that stage plays against corruption and bribes all over Uganda. The group is supported by a development worker from MS.

Fred, who is married with four children, does not have any formal theatre education, but he has performed in plays since he was 14 years old. He himself instructs and writes most of the plays staged by the troop. Already in the beginning of the 1980’s, he started experimenting with plays which dealt with topics of immediate social interest, and MS joined the project as a partner in 1996.

“We saw that corruption was a problem that has affected all the other problems in the country. For example, if we talk about economic development in Uganda, we can not ignore the issue of corruption. It is the greatest hindrance to the fight against poverty, and this is what we focus on,” says Fred.

Reaching everyone

“With theatre, we reach all classes in the society – from the lowest to highest levels. We have had the President of Uganda among our audience. However, the number of people we reach, is still limited,” he says, and speaks about a new initiative.

“Last year, we started a new kind of theatre that we call ‘forum theatre’. It involves the audience to a very large extent. It was important for us to know what the people thought about our theatre, and whether they took it seriously. Following the performances that focus on one problem, we involve the audience in a discussion, and try to find a solution to the problem,” says Fred. “In the beginning, we were nervous about how it would turn out. However, the reaction from the public was fascinating, and they were very interested in participating. It was rewarding for us to receive the reactions of the public and the solutions. People realised that society does not work with corruption and were happy - during the performance - to have the chance of doing things in a different way,” says Fred.

Photo: Adam Ansinck

Corruption is not okay

“We increase awareness of corruption, and teach people how to tackle in a practical way the situations where they are subjected to paying bribes,” he says.

“Bribes and corruption are sensitive topics, but I am optimistic, and believe that society can be changed for the better. But it is a long process. The problem in Uganda today is not that people do not know that corruption is wrong. The problem is that people think it is okay as long as it is not about their own money but, for instance, government funds – which do not exactly belong to anybody. Why should they bother about it? This attitude has to be changed,” explains Fred.

”People in Uganda are well aware that corruption is wrong. The problem is that people think it is okay as long as it is not about their own money but, for instance, about government funds. Bribes and corruption are sensitive topics but I am optimistic and believe that things can be changed for the better.”

Fred Munagomba Musisi

“First, we must get the people to talk openly about the problem. Therefore, to a large extent, we now take specific examples of corruption instead of describing it as an abstract problem with ‘the government’. We now mention the names of the people who receive bribes. We have succeeded in this way, and we have brought down corrupt officials,” says Fred without any pride.