Theatre that aims to bring harmony

The arts centre at the Bidi Bidi settlement offers 250,000 refugees the chance to sing, play, dance- and dream of a peaceful future

- Patience Akumu

The sound of a flute floats towards five young men in the 1,000-seat Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre theatre in Uganda - the country that hosts the highest number of refugees in Africa. The music carries past them to the shrubs that surround the circular majestic building and the neighbours going about their lives, the more than 250,000 refugees who live in the 250 sq km Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, the largest refugee camp in Africa.

The young men - gathered for a chance to play a musical instrument or record music - welcome visitors.

They are seated under the oldest fig tree, where the dream of building a place for the creative young people of Bidi Bidi to commune and nurture their talents was born.

"People always gathered under this tree to sing and dance," said Edward Byemba, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who moved to Uganda seven years ago and now teaches music at the centre. "This tree represents the place that sheltered us until we grew and built the centre."

His students nod in agreement as they look around the building, construction of which began in 2022, with enduring awe. Ceaser Godfrey, 21, jumps in with a confession. "I used to be a headache to my community. I used to get into fights, take alcohol, smoke cigarettes and other things," he said.

About 75% of the 1.7 million refugees in Uganda are women and children, and about 25% are aged 15 to 24. An estimated 53% of the refugee population is under 18 years old.