Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo, who was elected president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) in 2023, has threatened to resign from his position, citing frustration.
Kenzo made the revelation in a WhatsApp voice recording that surfaced online on Sunday evening.
The UNMF, an umbrella organization that unites various musicians’ associations in Uganda, has reportedly faced setbacks in accessing government funds intended to support artists.
According to Kenzo, the government has failed to align with his ideas and delayed the release of the remaining UGX 5 billion meant for the artists’ SACCO. He explained that after reaching out to Gen. Salim Saleh, Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), approval for the funds was granted. However, once the Ministry of Finance was informed, new obstacles emerged.
“They told us to go back and rebuild the structures. They invited us to a meeting which we refused to attend, but those who went told me it was good that we didn’t go because there were arguments and disagreements,” Kenzo said in the audio.
Kenzo, who also serves as a Presidential Advisor on Creative Industries, further revealed that the Ministry now plans to disburse the money directly to individual associations, bypassing the Federation — a move he described as an attempt to weaken UNMF’s authority.
“We had agreed that each association would get UGX 100 million. But if the Ministry sends the money directly to associations, it means the Federation has no role. We even replaced some people in those associations because of mismanagement. It’s unfair to claim that we can’t handle the distribution,” he added
The singer expressed concern that the decision is part of a larger plan to divide and destabilize the Federation, warning that it could undo the unity Ugandan musicians have built over the past two years.
“The moment we are divided, it’s easy to manipulate us. We had organized ourselves well as we waited for the remaining stimulus package, the Copyright Law Amendment, and regional studios. But now, our collective voice is being silenced,” he stated.
Admitting that tensions between his leadership and the Ministry have reached a breaking point, Kenzo said he could no longer tolerate the ongoing disorganization and internal conflicts.
“There’s a lot of pressure between us and the Ministry, but they are the bigger body. Out of respect, I can’t continue with such confusion. When I come back from Acholi, I’ll officially resign from music leadership. I hope you can find another person to continue with this because I can’t manage anymore,” he declared.
If Kenzo follows through with his resignation, it will mark the end of his two-year tenure as UNMF president, a period characterized by significant progress and persistent challenges in uniting Uganda’s music industry
Stay tuned for more updates here.
