Benefiting from gov’t programmes: Bunyoro musicians advised to unite

MASINDI –  Musicians in Bunyoro sub-region under their umbrella organisation, Allied Association of Bunyoro Entertainment Professionals [ABEP] have been urged to unite if they are to benefit from government programmes.

The musicians were advised by Paul Mugume, the Secretary ABEP while meeting the musicians at Lado Hotel in Masindi town on Saturday. The meeting was to help them get organised such that they are able to reap from their talents.

Mugume noted that many stakeholders including government are willing to support the musicians both financially and materially but they are not organised in groups.

Government has launched income-generating programmes like Emyooga and Parish Development Model (PDM) that Musicians can join in groups to benefit from.

“We are the ones who have denied ourselves opportunities because we do not want to get together. Instead, we are in cheap fights which won’t take us anywhere. We need to get together and tap into different government programs,” he noted.

He added that musicians in Bunyoro have failed help each other because of envy and lack of information and yet they have good music.

“We decided to start this association after seeing that the region was lagging behind musically. We want to use this opportunity to bring on board different actors who can help us grow like musicians from other regions. We are missing opportunities because everyone is doing his or her own business individually and yet no one is willing to support individuals. People who are organised are the ones who are supported,” he said.

According to Mugume, they also need to partner with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom to ensure that it supports Bunyoro’s music and also to promote culture.

Female musicians decried sexual harassment from some producers and radio presenters which they said is a very big challenge to them as ladies in the industry.

Others complained of stereotypes from some community members, explaining that some of them are termed as lumpens, something that demotivates them.

But Frank Ainebyoona, the Association’s Treasurer noted that all the challenges can be solved if there’s unity for a purpose.

“We are being despised because we have no voice and also, we have not branded ourselves. Do music as a business don’t sing because you’re supposed to sing. If you are organised the community will respect you,” he advised.

He added that the challenge most musicians face is inadequate information about what they’re doing; adding that as an Association they want to first put much emphasis on sensitisation and nurturing.

“As an Association, we are going to work together to ensure that we do things which will yield positive fruits to musicians,” he said.

“We want to ensure that musicians from the region produce quality music. We want them to use their talents as a business. We are also going to be lobbying for them to always perform whenever there are big events on top of helping them acquire loans to do other side businesses. We are also going to lobby for a classic studios among other things” explained Ainebyoona.

The musicians were also advised to always be honest, be accountable, have a vision, and also managements to run their activities.

The Association which was formed in November last year is working with musicians in the eight districts of Bunyoro and a city.

Among other issues they’re looking at is ensuring favourable policies are put in place with the help of the Kingdom whereby at least 80 percent of the music from the region will be played on the local radio stations as a way of promoting the musicians in the region.

The Association has also started a process of developing a website where all songs of musicians from the region will be uploaded as a way of marketing them both locally and internationally.

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