Threading Uganda’s Creative Economy: How Mirembe Beddings & Curtains Is Powering Growth Through Design

Introduction: The Economics of Creativity

Kampala, Uganda — The numbers tell a story that is often overlooked. According to UNESCO, the global creative economy contributes over \$2 trillion annually and employs millions worldwide. In Africa, this sector is slowly gaining recognition as a driver of GDP, youth employment, and cultural export.

Uganda, too, is beginning to awaken to this potential. Music, film, fashion, and crafts are frequently highlighted, but one industry has quietly grown in the background, home décor. And leading the charge is Mirembe Beddings & Curtains, a local brand that is redefining how design contributes to Uganda’s economy.

A Brand Beyond Décor

Founded by Nagawa Irene, simply called Mirembe, the company began as a response to a gap: the absence of high-quality, locally made beddings and curtains for Ugandan households, hotels, and offices.

But the story has grown far beyond filling a market niche. Today, Mirembe Beddings & Curtains is part of Uganda’s evolving creative economy, proving that beauty, design, and aesthetics are also economics.

Job Creation and Skills Development

One of the biggest contributions of the brand lies in employment generation. The décor industry is labor-intensive, requiring artisans to cut, sew, stitch, and install.

Tailors and seamstresses are trained in precision and creativity.

Installers handle fittings and client customization.

Design consultants work with customers to shape their vision.

Through this ecosystem, Mirembe Beddings & Curtains has created jobs for dozens of young Ugandans, many of whom are women. In a country where youth unemployment hovers around 13%, such contributions are vital.

Building Local Value Chains

The ripple effect of the company’s operations extends into Uganda’s value chains. Fabric suppliers, transporters, carpenters, and interior designers all benefit from the brand’s growth.

This integration reflects the principle of Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU), the government’s flagship policy to promote local products. By sourcing locally where possible and elevating Ugandan artisanship, Mirembe Beddings & Curtains keeps money circulating within the economy rather than flowing out through imports.

Boosting Hospitality and Tourism

Uganda’s tourism industry contributes over 7% of GDP, with hotels and lodges playing a central role. Décor is a silent but powerful determinant of guest satisfaction.

By supplying beddings and curtains to hotels and guesthouses, Mirembe Beddings & Curtains indirectly contributes to Uganda’s tourism competitiveness. Positive guest reviews often mention comfort, elegance, and atmosphere, all enhanced by décor choices.

Thus, the company is not just selling textiles; it is enhancing Uganda’s tourism value proposition.

Women in the Creative Economy

The creative economy thrives on inclusivity. Women are often central to crafts, design, and aesthetics, yet they are underrepresented in leadership.

Here, Nagawa Irene (Mirembe) stands out. As both the founder of the décor brand and the CEO of MBC TV Uganda, she represents a new wave of Ugandan women entrepreneurs leading industries that are shaping national identity.

Her success challenges gender stereotypes and inspires a new generation of women to see creativity not as a hobby, but as a legitimate path to wealth creation and influence.

From Informal Sector to Formal Industry

For decades, décor was seen as part of Uganda’s informal sector, tailors working in small workshops, families buying fabric from downtown markets, and artisans surviving on one-off contracts.

Mirembe Beddings & Curtains has helped formalize this industry by introducing branding, structured customer service, quality assurance, and corporate partnerships. This professionalization has elevated décor from a side hustle to a recognized industry segment.

Export Potential

The global market for home décor is worth over \$800 billion, and African design is gaining global attention for its bold colors and cultural storytelling.

Mirembe Beddings & Curtains has its eyes set on this horizon. Regional expansion into East Africa is the first step, but long-term plans include positioning Ugandan décor as a cultural export. This aligns with Uganda’s broader vision of diversifying exports beyond coffee and fish.

Innovation as Economic Strategy

Economic growth is not just about volume but also about innovation. Mirembe Beddings & Curtains has demonstrated this by:

Offering customized décor packages for homes, offices, and hotels.

Repurposing fabric offcuts into cushions and accessories, minimizing waste.

Using social media as a digital showroom, turning Instagram and Facebook into platforms of commerce and branding.

This adaptability shows how Ugandan businesses can thrive by combining creativity with technology.

Challenges in a Growing Market

Despite its success, the company navigates real challenges:

Imports of cheap, mass-produced décor products undermine local producers.

Fluctuating exchange rates affect the cost of fabric, much of which is imported.

Consumer awareness remains limited, many still perceive décor as a luxury rather than an essential.

Yet the brand’s resilience lies in consistent quality and the storytelling that connects décor to lifestyle and identity.

A Model for Uganda’s Creative Economy

Experts argue that Uganda’s creative industries could contribute up to 10% of GDP if nurtured properly. What is needed are models of success that demonstrate the possibilities.

Mirembe Beddings & Curtains is one such model. It shows how a creative idea can grow into a business that:

Creates jobs.

Strengthens value chains.

Contributes to tourism.

Elevates Uganda’s cultural identity.

This is the very essence of a creative economy.

Looking Ahead: Stitching Uganda into the Global Fabric

The next decade will be decisive. With Africa projected to have the world’s youngest population, industries that combine creativity and employment are key. Décor fits this category perfectly.

Mirembe Beddings & Curtains is positioning itself as not only a Ugandan brand but an African lifestyle voice. Through regional expansion, digital platforms, and cultural storytelling, the company is stitching Uganda into the global fabric of design and aesthetics.

Conclusion: Economics Meets Elegance

When an artisan at Mirembe Beddings & Curtains threads a needle or hangs a curtain, it may seem like a simple act. But in reality, it is an economic act. It is job creation, value addition, tourism enhancement, cultural preservation, and GDP growth.

What began as Mirembe’s personal vision has grown into a case study of how Uganda’s creative economy can thrive. It is proof that design is not only about beauty — it is also about economics, dignity, and national identity.

As Uganda looks to diversify its economy, brands like Mirembe Beddings & Curtains are showing that the creative industries are not just side players. They are central to the story of development, resilience, and growth.

And in every fold of fabric and every drape of elegance, that story continues to be written.