KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan singer and President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), Eddy Kenzo, has publicly revealed that his decision not to align with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and his National Unity Platform (NUP) party is rooted in the absence of financial and personal benefits.
During a recent YouTube interview, the musician was asked why he had not backed Mr. Kyagulanyi, who is also a fellow figure from the entertainment industry. Eddy Kenzo candidly stated that supporting Bobi Wine would not be financially sustainable given his personal responsibilities.
The singer emphasized his duty to his family, asserting that he could not thrive on the opposition leader’s side, which he claimed was primarily self-serving. He elaborated on his position:
“If I were to support him, in which position would I be? Where would I be eating? Personally, I have children, a wife, and a family to take care of. If I’m to join him, which office would I be in? Why doesn’t he leave his seat for me and support me? That is when you know it is for him and doesn’t benefit me,” he said.
In contrast, Eddy Kenzo praised President Museveni for his commitment to improving the creative industry for stakeholders, noting that he had never received such an offer from the opposition leader.
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He praised the President’s approach: “Fortunately, President Museveni understands the concept. He calls you and asks you to collect your peers to see how he can help you. But I have never gotten a message like that from Bobi Wine. I want to empower people around me so that I stay in a good community,” he said.
The UNMF president further revealed that a group of creative professionals had initially supported Mr. Kyagulanyi, only to be later sidelined. He listed several prominent artists who joined NUP seeking political candidacies but were reportedly denied party endorsement, including Jose Chameleone, Patricko Mujjuko, Flavia Namulindwa, and Reign.
Eddy Kenzo concluded that the political movement was not inclusive of the creative sector’s interests: “We had supported him, but we realized we weren’t getting anything from it, so we let it go. It is not about artists, but it’s for him. Artists joined his party, but he didn’t give them the card: Jose Chameleone, Patricko Mujjuko, Flavia Namulindwa, and Reign. It is not about creatives but about him,” he affirmed.
