Museveni to buy music equipment, build mega studio for Ugandan artists

Museveni said last weekend that he will soon call a meeting for all musicians to discuss how this facility should be set up and optimized to uplift their talents.

The President made the pledge while officiating at the launch of the “Museveni Awooma” music album at Kololo Independence Grounds on Saturday, September 16. 

The album launch was organized by singer Munamasaka Emma Nsereko.

President Museveni also pledged to purchase new music equipment for the artist.

“I want to congratulate Munamasaka for using his music talent to promote NRM and development. I first saw him in the Mukono area, he was singing these indigenous songs and I liked them so much. 

“He was using the indigenous tunes but putting in new messages and this is what we used to do in the bush; this is how we used to mobilize our people; using the Bakisimba and Nankasa tunes,” he said.

“I couldn't miss coming. I had a visitor, the President of Sudan but I had to come to support Munamasaka. I want to thank him and the other musicians for singing well and we are going to support them by giving them funds and equipment,” said the president

Regarding the music facility for all artists, President Museveni said although he has already been supporting a few artists, he envisaged setting up something that can benefit a wider range of musicians.

“A studio can be owned by all of you, not necessarily by one person. Like the Muzukulu here, she was saying that she wants to record her songs which are very good. That is not a problem, we should have a studio where you go and pay a little fee and they record a song for you.”

The President also asserted that he would help the artists to ensure that the copyright law materializes.

“It will help you to safeguard your music and benefit from it because if you compose a song, it should be registered so that nobody can steal it,” President Museveni emphasized.

However, the President advised the musicians not to rely only on singing if they want to create wealth.

“We shall have some singers, others will be actors/actresses but you must do other things and as I told you there are four sectors of the economy; this one of singing is in the service sector which include sub-sectors like music, drama, transport, hospitality, salons, the medical treatment, accounting, and auditing, preaching. Those are all in the service sector,” he explained.

At the event, President Museveni was flanked by First Lady Janet Museveni. It was also attended by the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, KCCA Executive Director, Ms. Dorothy Kisaka, Uganda National Women's Council Chairperson, Hajjat Faridah Kibowa, Moses Karangwa NRM Chairperson Kayunga, among others.