Last night I returned to Uganda after a very successful trip in Nairobi – Kenya.<\/p>\n
I am very grateful to Kenya for the warm brotherly welcome.<\/p>\n
Later, I will send out a special message of thanks to the people of Kenya and specific individuals who made our visit memorable.<\/p>\n
I know that many of our friends are anxious about the status of our KYARENGA concert which stands scheduled for this Saturday. 20th October.<\/p>\n
Upon return to the country, I had a meeting with our team to evaluate and make final decisions about the concert.<\/p>\n
As you are all aware, there have been several hiccups in our preparations.<\/p>\n
These problems have been caused by the inconsistency and lack of transparency on the part of Uganda Police Force.<\/p>\n
For the past three weeks, the event organizers have been tossed up and about by the police.<\/p>\n
Indeed, over three weeks ago, we approached the police and informed them about our intentions to hold the concert as required by law.<\/p>\n
We agreed and made payments to the Namboole Stadium management, and made a booking for the 13th of October.<\/p>\n
That was our initial date of choice for the show. After making a deposit on venue fees, the Managing Director of the stadium called requesting us to change the date because there was going to be a match between Uganda Cranes and Lesotho on the date we had booked.<\/p>\n
Even when we had already recorded adverts mentioning the 13th, we decided that a game involving our national team was very important and it was fit and proper for us to let them access the stadium.<\/p>\n
We then agreed with Namboole Management and rescheduled our concert for the 20th of October. We started advertising.<\/p>\n
Once again our team went to the Police headquarters in Naguru with a written request for the Police to clear the show and provide security on that day.<\/p>\n
On arrival, the police officers in charge of receiving and filing letters refused to stamp on it to indicate that it had been received.<\/p>\n
Even when we insisted that we needed this for our records, they persisted.<\/p>\n
Days went by and when we followed up, the team was advised to meet the Director of Research in the Police about the same!<\/p>\n
Our team went ahead with other copies of the letter to the Director of Research (Mr. Ochom) who sent us to the Inspector General of Police.<\/p>\n
The team went to the IGP’s office and he sent them to his assistant who then sent them to afande Asuman Mugyenyi.<\/p>\n
At this point, these guys started speaking a different language.<\/p>\n
The team was asked to get written clearance from Namboole stadium first and when they approached the Namboole MD for the letter, he in turn asked them for police clearance!<\/p>\n
It is a day later that we saw a letter on social media addressed to us from Namboole saying that the 20th of October was also booked for a wedding.<\/p>\n
We asked for a copy of the letter if it was legitimate and it was not given to us.<\/p>\n
The team also visited the Kampala Metropolitan Police office and the KMP head, Moses Kafeero referred them to his assistant.<\/p>\n
His assistant told them to go to the Chieftaincy of Military intelligence (CMI) if they wanted any information concerning police clearance of the Kyarenga Concert!<\/p>\n
My team went back to the Police headquarters on Friday last week and they were told to go back today at 10am on condition that I appear with them in person.<\/p>\n
When they told me, I decided to cut short my trip to Kenya to attend this meeting today.<\/p>\n
To my dismay, when my team reached the Police headquarters this morning, they were told that the IGP was out of town.<\/p>\n
I resorted to making phone calls to him all day today but the person who picked my calls kept telling me that the IGP was in a meeting at the Police headquarters board room since 8:00am.<\/p>\n
We have done everything required of us by law but it is apparent that the people in authority are doing everything possible to frustrate the concert.<\/p>\n
As things stand, the concert has been left in balance.<\/p>\n
A lot of money and time have been spent in advertisements and preparations.<\/p>\n
Dear fans and friends, I am not sure when or whether the Kyarenga Concert will happen.<\/p>\n
But I advise those in authority to desist from these provocations. I am a Ugandan artiste with a legitimate right to stage a concert.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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