Kadaga intervenes in artistes’, government rift as Kibuuka is denounced

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has promised to write to the concerned authorities, to make sure that government first allocates a budget for the entertainment industry before imposing regulations on their work.

In the meeting attended by artistes including Benon Kibuuka, Kato Lubwama, Mariam Ndagire, and Sophie Gombya among others, Kadaga noted that government should first organize and fund workshops for entertainers then the Stage Plays and Public Entertainment Act will come later.

According to Kadaga, it’s the government’s role to see that it empowers and motivates all sectors, entertainment industry inclusive, and that the government should also look into allocating a budget to the artiste’s Sacco.

On behalf of artistes, Kibuuka requested the Speaker to write to Ministry of Gender and task them to first consult with the Uganda Federation of Performing Arts ‘UFPA’(Body that represents artistes) before enacting the Performing bill.

However, the meeting came days after artistes allegedly wrote to the junior gender minister, Peace Mutuuza claiming that Kibuuka and his UFPA team do not represent the voice of artistes.

In the campaign engineered by Big Talent boss Eddy Kenzo, artistes claimed that the service of Kibuuka as the president of UFPA ended in 2004, and that he’s current services on behalf of artistes is illegal.

Earlier this year, artistes organised a meeting at Jahazi Pier, Munyonyo to discuss how to throw out the proposed Stage Plays and Public Entertainment Act  and one of the resolutions was to denounce Kibuuka as their representative, and also to urge Ministry of Gender to re-draft this bill.

The Proposed bill suggests that every artiste should be registered under Ministry of Gender, No artiste will be allowed to shoot a video without authorization from the Ministry, No artiste shall perform under the influence of drugs, and artistes shall not perform for less than 60 minutes or above 120 minutes, among others.