The music industry in Uganda has experienced steady growth for the last few years however, a recent trend towards politics has created some challenges for different music industry players especially Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who joined active politics.
Bobi wine has had his number of shows blocked with the most recent being concert that was scheduled on boxing day December 26, 2018.
The musician has been prevented from being a guest performer at different concerts.
Since then more different players in the industry have openly expressed their political leanings and this has affected their relationship with the State and the security agencies.
Andrew Benon Kibuuka the president of Federation Of Performing Arts came out to give the organization’s stake on the unfolding events in the music industry.
According to Kibuuka most of what is happening in the industry can be blamed on the old laws that govern the industry.
“We don’t have rules and regulations governing the industry, this is a big problem,” Kibuuka said
He added that the public entertainment act which artists are working upon was set in 1943 by colonial masters even before national theatre was constructed.
“We didn’t have promoters, stadium shows, active theatres, we didn’t have musicians who moved place to place, we had few entertainers,” he stated.
He expressed his disapproval of the new regulations for the musicians recently set by Police.
He says police before passing the law they would have first consulted artists.
Kibuuka says it is not good for one person to affect the multitudes of people that earn a living in the industry.
“For us we don’t look at one person we look at the entire industry. People who I believe have even suffered more are the promoters who invest in a lot of money and book the venue. Why should one person make all to suffer?” he asked
According to Kibuuka, misunderstanding between Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool didn’t start last week, this is how they have been for more than 10 years and some say they intend it.