Musician Bebe Cool recently announced a proposal to secure $4 million annually from the government to promote Ugandan coffee through the music industry.
According to Bebe Cool, the funds would be used to support four artists two male and two female with $1 million each, in exchange for their efforts to market Ugandan coffee both locally and globally.
“I want President Museveni to support me through coffee. I plan to choose two male and two female artists each year, invest $1 million in each of them, and use their platforms to promote our coffee worldwide,” Bebe Cool stated.
However, Eddy Kenzo Presidential Advisor on Art and Creatives, and also President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation has publicly rejected the plan.
Kenzo expressed concern that the proposal benefits only a select few, while the wider music community is left out. Instead, he urged the government to focus on building quality music production studios that would serve all artists.
“It doesn’t make sense to support just a few artists. What about the rest? All musicians deserve government support because they are Ugandans too. If we want the industry to grow, we need better infrastructure starting with good studios that offer quality production and mastering.”Kenzo said during a media interview
Eddy Kenzo, known for his advocacy on behalf of the Ugandan music industry, emphasized the importance of inclusive development that uplifts the entire creative sector, not just individual talents.