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The Minister said on Wednesday that if the Government truly sought to weaken and impoverish musicians and other artists as was being claimed, Bobi Wine would not be as rich as he is.
“If the government was against you, the person whom you call president is here; where did he get his money from? Was it not from music?” he said.
"What you need to know is that the Government wishes you the artists well. Instead of fighting you should unite and speak in one voice.”
Gen Katumba was speaking at the burial of celebrated artist Paul Kato Lubwama yesterday, where he represented President Yoweri Museveni.
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Bobi Wine and Gen Katumba Wamala at the funeral
His comments followed back-to-back complaints by different speakers at the funeral in Nkozi in Mpigi district, about the government's delay to pass the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Amendment Bill.
In an impassioned speech at the send-off, Bobi Wine blamed the lack of progress on passing the law, on what he deems government's determination to frustrate the entertainment industry.
He noted that while other laws which were drafted around the same time last year, including the Computer Misuse Act have been passed, the copyright bill has remained on the shelves.
In response however, Gen Katumba told mourners that the amendment bill was going to be passed soon, and that there was no need to propagate fear and anger among the artist about the delay.
Katumba said the mover of the bill, Hon Hilary Kiyaga (Hilderman), together with the Leader of Opposition and the Attorney General were currently working on the amendments.