This initiative that is said to have been a brain child of Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh, is being natured by Ragga Dee, by ‘marrying’ today’s star singers like King Saha, Queen Sheeba, Spice Diana, Bebe Cool among others, to do covers of songs of veterans such as Matia Luyima, Sarah Birungi, Eclas Kawalya, Freda Sonko, Fred Masagazi, Elly Wamala, Fred Sebata, Paulo Kafeero, and Herman Bassudde among others.

Though still being stagnated by some legal impediments as regards the copy right law, Ragga Dee, insists that it will be just a matter of time before Uganda officially realizes its unique sound that will be its signature tune. One of the songs that is off the project is ‘Empeta’ done by Ragga Dee himself and has since had a new cover done featuring King Saha and Sheeba Karungi.

Kadongokamu is a music genre native to Uganda and is the oldest mainstream music genre in the country. The word “Kadongokamu” is a term in the Ganda language that means “one little guitar”. To understand why the genre has this name, one has to understand the stylistic structure of the music which is created with only one acoustic guitar, a dry acoustic non-electric six-string guitar. 

But this is not always the case and many times other instruments are involved. However, the true style of the music relies only on one acoustic guitar as instrumentation, hence the “one little guitar” name. It should be noted that 90% of Ugandan music is now fully engrossed into Nigeria’s Amapiano, Jamaican Dance Hall, Congolese Lingala and rumba, thus trying to formulate a new Ugandan genre will be like going onto a wild goose chase.

This follows a crisis meeting that was called by Ms Juliana Naumo, a commissioner at the Ministry who was assigned to mediate the aggrieved parties. The Uganda National Cultural Center (UNCC) executive director Francis Ojede, had on Wednesday wrote to UMA advising them to stay the said election until further notice.

In the meeting that was attended by Hon. Hillary Kiyaga, a member of the UMA policy board and its legal counsel Sliver Kyagulanyi, urged that UNCC had misinterpreted and diluted the efforts of UMA to mobilize its members to participate in the said election and that it was in their mandate to hold the same as the constitution requires.

When pressed on whether upcountry members would be given a chance to vote for their desired leaders, the team was edgy but still managed to convince the commissioner, who later gave them a green light to go ahead with the process as earlier planned. By the time we went to press, UNCC was yet to release a statement to the same effect.

UMA has twice in the recent past failed to hold the same election with the last attempt being on 8^th June 2022, where Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, the legal counsel of one of the contestants Mansoor Lubega aka King Saha, stormed the tally center at the National Theatre contesting the then used online poll system that he alleged it had been compromised prior. Saha, Cinderella Sanyu aka Cindy, and little-known Ramathan Mutebi aka Lord Bitemu are vying for the presidency of the association.

This posture, after Mansour Lubega aka King Saha and his campaign machine had spread word around, claiming how the decorated bush war General was backing Saha to become the next musicians` president. This website came up with the same story with some theory justifications. 

But in a fresh and illustrative twist of events, we have been informed that as soon as the son of Kaguta got wind of the news, he was completely taken aback before laughing off the whole affair as a first-rate comedy of sorts. However, Salim Saleh later instructed his handlers to quickly engage the parties using his name, as well as the media outlets reporting the same, to stop it henceforth. 

“These boys are really funny… how can they involve me as one of the characters in their drama without my prior consent and approval” Saleh mused throwing his handlers in a hearty laughter. It should be noted that at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic with the ensuing SOPs, the entertainment industry closed door.

During this time, several entertainers sought the assistance of Gen. Saleh through his OWC mandate. His offices then based in Gulu Military Barracks, turned into a Mecca of sorts for many an artiste, all in search for financial assistance.

The good General later realized that handling issues of the entertainment industry would not suffice any good returns unless they formed SACCOs and realized an umbrella structure that would benefit all sectors and players in the industry. And this is what he encouraged them.

“The General wish to distance self from UMA affairs. He encouraged artistes to come together as a SACCO and that`s where his interest as someone who wanted to extend help, stopped,” an authoritative aide to the General called in last night.  

The UMA Electoral Commission is yet to announce the official polls day somewhere in May. It should however be noted that away from Saleh, singer-cum politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, recently endorsed Saha for the Presidency, in what many said was a ploy to defile the seating president, Sanyu Cindy of another Term, prematurely.

But Gagamel boss, Bebe Cool dismissed the Saha presidency right from the word go. Bebe said he cannot endorse a weed-pusher for the job. Insiders say Bebe is backing Cinderella Sanyu for the big post though he is yet to mention it. This could be understandable. For, his son, Allan Hendrick Byamukama aka Paper Daddy is running for the vice presidency slot. He is tasseling it out with Daddy Andre, and Kalifah Aganaga.

Others are; Allan Toniks who is bidding for the Secretary General position, Irene Namatovu for women’s affairs, and Geo-Steady for Finance. Back to Saha, his camp dustbins the weed talk, saying UMA is not an electoral election is not one electing a bishop and thus that those playing the moral card can go to rest.

A visibly agitated Bebe Cool went on to state that King Saha, having publicly Confessed on national TV and other media fora to being an ardent bhangi smoker would throw out the little sanity that UMA still prides it’s self in. “How many other musician associations or groups world wide can have a president that has ragged looks that Saha posseses sincerely”! Bebe wondered. 

He added thus; “A man like Saha can not command coporate collaboration with the association. I would rather have Cindy Return as president if she reforms and (gets to) understand that it’s all about lobbying for unity and collaboration.

Bebe, also said to be interested in running for the same office, distanced himself from such allegations, saying that he was better off as a veteran whose wide knowledge could be more utilized as an advisor. The Uganda Musicians Association will hold its next elaction of it’s leading executive body later this year, with many of the out going office bearrers already seeking a second term.