Teesa Bahana is the director of 32° East Ugandan Arts Trust, a not-for-profit that promotes the creation and exploration of contemporary art in Uganda. As a director she has supported the development and execution of projects such as KLA ART Labs for research and critical thinking through public practice, the third edition of KLA ART, Kampala’s public art festival, and residency exchanges with partners such as Arts Collaboratory, Triangle Network, and The Project Space. She is also currently overseeing 32° East’s capital project, raising funds to build the first purpose-built art center in Kampala. With an academic background in sociology and anthropology, she is particularly interested in the intersection between art and Ugandan society, and how artistic environments should be protected and nurtured.

Before her directorship at 32° East, she was on the inaugural organisation committee for Nyege Nyege International Music Festival and worked in communications and external relations for educational non-profits in Rwanda, Burundi, and South Africa.