Ugandan artists form new music association

The association comes about months after the artists detached themselves from the Uganda Performers Rights Society (UPRS) due to unsatisfactory results from the body that had promised to help generate revenue from their music.

On 29 October, at Centenary Park’s Laftaz Lounge, artists, radio personalities and music critics attended a meeting dubbed #SaveUGMusic. Singer Moze Radio – of the Goodlyfe Crew – addressed the woes of artists who had left UPRS. He said the body was the root cause of the musicians’ problems.

However, radio personality Eddy Sendi urged the artists to join UPRS once again, claiming that the organisation was ready to make good on its promises. Not many artists were convinced as, while being interviewed on Dembe FM, songbird Juliana Kanyomozi called out UPRS CEO James Wasula and asked him to explain how much artists were paid and how the body arrived at the amount that the musicians received.

The Uganda Musicians Association, which was unveiled on 1 December, is also affiliated with the National Union of Creative Performing Artists and Allied Workers, a body that is registered under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The executive board of the new association, which is hoped to meet the musicians’ needs, comprises Mesach Semakula, Dr Hilderman, A Pass, secretary Sylver Kyagulanyi, vice-chairperson Angella Kalule and chairperson Julius Kyazze.

To join the organisation, one has to be a manager, vocalist, producer, instrumentalist or musician. However, key players who do not fall under these categories will be given honorary membership after a vetting process from the executive body.