The promoters facing their hour of truth in Gulu recently
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Ugandan music promoters who experienced embarrassment and humiliation following their recent trip to Gulu to meet with Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) coordinator, Gen Salim Saleh have vowed to seek redress.
Gen. Saleh, who is also the younger brother to President Yoweri Museveni, reportedly st his security team loose, and ordered them to uproot the promoters from his premises, has kept mum about the confrontation.
The promoters, led by well-known events organizer Abbey Musinguzi, commonly known as Abitex, were apprehended by security forces and sent back to Kampala without any results.
It should be highlighted that music industry stakeholders, including musicians and promoters, have developed a routine of going to Gen Saleh’s home in Gulu to request financial support disguised as government funding for the creative sector. Recently, Gen Saleh communicated with Eddy Kenzo informing all musicians to cease their visits to Gulu, as they were interrupting his official duties there.
This warning was disregarded, and among those musicians who faced embarrassment was OS Suuna. It appears that promoters assumed this notice did not apply to them until they encountered the General’s authoritative approach. According to Abitex, they plan to address the public this Wednesday to explain their experience and outline their next steps.
Abitex mentioned that their group’s aim was to question Gen Saleh about why he has consistently overlooked promoters and instead focused on musicians. Furthermore, they aimed to secure funding for their savings and cooperative Union from the General.
“We wanted to ask him why people like Jose Chameleone drink a lot of alcohol, fall sick, and get sent hundreds of millions to go for treatment abroad,” questioned Abitex.
“Why is all this money being handed to people like Kenzo, while we, the people who promote their music, are left behind?”
The seasoned promoter indicated that this situation arose after several months of receiving no response from the General, despite their previous attempts to seek a meeting.
People in Gulu report that this group was detained after arriving at Gulu Airport. It has been alleged that the General had a visitor scheduled for that day, but their arrival interrupted that meeting, causing it not to take place.
Additional sources claim that the General informed his security team that he felt “under attack” by these promoters. Consequently, they were rounded up and taken back to their hotel in a van. However, upon arrival, the situation escalated, and some, such as Nobat Events, were physically assaulted when they attempted to resist.
It remains uncertain what these promoters will convey during their announcement, but stay alert as we will keep you informed.
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