The Future Site of the Nagenda International Academy of Art and Design

The porch of the existing house where some of NIAAD’s offices and studios will be located.

The view from the existing porch.

The current living room, which will be converted into a reception area.

Construction is underway, but we still need your support to help build the dormitories and studios!

The Plans

Architect’s rendering: NIAAD elevation.

Architect’s rendering: NIAAD floor plan.

(Illustrations courtesy Kizito Maria Kasule)

The Founding Director: Mentor, Teacher, Visionary



 Kizito Maria Kasule discusses the plans for the construction of NIAAD.

One of Kizito’s sculptures, which sits on the existing front porch of the future NIAAD site.

Kizito with a recent painting. His subject matter and influences are far-reaching, but many of his recent works (like this one) have celebrated motherhood and paid tribute to his family.

Kizito Maria Kasule leads a tour of Kampala for international students. His work is featured in prominent locations, including the buildings of Parliament.

In January 2006, Kizito guided the participants of Global Youth Partnership for Africa’s inaugural US/Uganda Youth Summit in the creation of an innovative performance/visual art piece. The artists were asked to incorporate newspaper headlines about the war in Uganda as well as their own improvised performances in the painting. This collaborative effort, inspired by a week of intense dialogue about gender issues, HIV/AIDS and peace and conflict resolution, yielded the stunning mural pictured here. (Photo courtesy Global Youth Partnership for Africa)

GYPA’s Vanessa Bilanceri with the mural, which is a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing atrocities facing Uganda’s Internally Displaced Persons. At the same time, the painting is a testament to the remarkable partnerships that are possible when youth from all over the world join to promote peace and justice.

Kizito provided the participants with a general shape on the otherwise-blank canvas. By the end of the evening, the canvas was covered and so were their bodies. Kizito’s aim was to “make a statement about identity, responsibility, and peaceful collaboration.” (Photo courtesy of Jessica Nape)

All photos by Julia Smith unless otherwise noted.