In a recent incident, members of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) faced criticism for their visit to parliament. The Uganda Musicians Federation (UMA) expressed their displeasure, branding the move as self-serving.
Sophie Gombya, a singer from UMA, accused the UNMF members of lacking etiquette and exposing their internal issues publicly, which she believed embarrassed all artistes, including those not affiliated with their group. She stated that their behavior was inappropriate and urged them to present themselves well in public, even if they had personal issues. She also emphasized that one artist’s actions reflect on all artists, making it essential to avoid selfish behavior, especially when representing the artistic community.
Gombya attributed the federation members’ actions to their upbringing and offered an apology on behalf of UMA, highlighting the differences in their backgrounds and upbringing. She acknowledged that not all artistes share the same values and behavior, distancing the UMA from the controversy.
Cindy, the president of UMA, expressed her displeasure with the situation, accusing the government of exacerbating divisions within the music industry. She claimed that the government was financing conflicts among artists instead of allowing them to resolve their differences independently.
The UNMF members visited parliament on October 4 with specific demands. They petitioned for radio and TV stations to allocate 90% of airtime to local music. They also sought amendments to the 2006 Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act and changes to the charges for caller back tunes, aiming to receive 60% of the proceeds. This move has ignited a debate within the music industry regarding the best approach to address their concerns.
