Musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has once again raised concern over the state of Uganda’s music industry, saying it has been deliberately weakened and stripped of its power to influence society.
Speaking during rehearsals for his upcoming concert in London, Bobi Wine described the industry as being “under siege,” blaming its decline on calculated efforts by authorities to neutralize its potential for social and political impact.
“The industry has been taken over by people who don’t know and worse still don’t know that they don’t know,” he remarked.
According to Bobi Wine, the Ugandan government has worked to suppress the music industry after realizing the power it held through artists like him voices that once challenged the status quo, inspired change, and mobilized the masses.
“Artists were often disrespected, but when we saw legends like Bob Marley use music to fight colonialism and spark revolutions, we also stepped up. That’s when they decided to capture and control the industry,” he said.
He alleged that the state has since resorted to promoting musicians it can control — artists who serve political interests rather than speak for the people.
“Music is supposed to reflect reality. As artists, we are mirrors of society. What we see in our communities is what we sing about. Fans relate to that they come to our shows to hear music that speaks to their lives,” Bobi Wine explained.
However, he lamented that today’s Ugandan music scene has drifted away from its roots as a form of social commentary.
“Artists have now been reduced to producing meaningless songs, with no social or political weight. That kills the very soul of the industry,” he said.
Daily Spear Ug will provide updates as new developments arise.
