James Nsamba, director of Namungoona Children’s Art Center makes a living as a commercial artist and sign painter. He is not paid for his work running the Art Center, though it is often a full time occupation. He often recruits some of his students as his helpers on commercial art jobs, which helps the young people pay their school fees.
“These are very talented teenagers,” Nsamba said. “They’ve been taking art lessons here for years. Now they’re in high school and some at university. But their families are poor. Their parents can’t afford school fees. By helping me in my commercial work, they are earning enough to stay in school. So they are always busy, either at their studies, or working on their own art projects, or helping me on commercial jobs.
“We paint houses, print t-shirts and posters, create signs for businesses, paint murals on school and business buildings.” Some of the kids are always at the center when they are not at school. Their families are poor and they’d rather hang out here than waste time at home where there is nothing to do."

“Mutima Simon, left, is one of our long term kids,” Nsamba said “He is a student at Metropolitan University. Nsubuga Arafat center, is finishing high school this year. He is very talented.”