By BigEyeUg Team
Last week, the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) unveiled its policy board.
New policy board members vowed to promote unity and curb indiscipline among artists.
At the unveiling ceremony, UMA president Cindy Sanyu revealed that the board constitutes of individuals from different regions of Uganda but due to the current COVID-19 lockdown, it was limited to those around Kampala.
Cindy also promised to officially introduce those members in other regions of the country.
“Today is such a special day to unveil our policy board to all of you. Most of the people on the board are from Kampala right now, its because they are the people around right now. Because of the Covid situation the country we haven’t been able to travel around the country to tell other people in other regions to join the policy board. But hopefully with time, we shall spare time to include everyone coz UMA is not just in Kampala but all over Uganda,” Cindy said.
The UMA Policy board comprises fabled names in the arts and music fraternity of Uganda and these include; Mesarch Semakula, Hon. Hilary Kiyaga (Dr. Hilderman), Paddy Kayiwa (Paddy Man), Kayemba Solomon, Halima Namakula, Sophie Gombya, Kato Lubwama, and Isaac Ruchi.
Last year, former UMA President Ykee Benda announced that Afrigo Band’s Moses Matovu had joined the association’s advisory board.
Mesarch Semakula noted that UMA’s ambition is to establish a strong body that will hold Ugandan musicians’ reputation and legacy even for the future.
“We are building a structure that we know will draw respect for Uganda in future after us. All the policy board members are around,” stated Mesarch Semakula.
Mawokota Member of Parliament Hon. Hilderman revealed that the policy board was set to guide UMA leadership and maintain its objectives for the artists.
Hon. Hilderman also said that there is a lot of disunity among musicians now but UMA is the only accredited platform they should all subscribe to for the best legacy of the music industry.
“They elected us to make sure that they don’t go off track. Many things have happened and you could tell that they really needed advise. I have seen so many divisions within artists but I want to be sincere to you that all these are delaying us as artists. The only body that should handle us is UMA,” Mawokota Member of Parliament Hon. Hilderman said.
The UMA Electoral commission was also introduced and longtime singer Sam Gombya was appointed to head it.
This sparks the verge of legendary singer, Jose Chameleone conniving with other renowned artists to form other bodies; the United Superstars Association of Uganda and the Uganda Musicians Forum.
We will keep you posted