Opinion ~ Maurice Kirya, Says Ugandan Artistes’ Big Dinner with President Museveni, a Missed Opportunity
Social Media has been awash with vibrant photos from the recently concluded dinner hosted by President Museveni, featuring many Ugandan Musicians, Comedians, Actors, and key people from the Ugandan Entertainment Industry. One of the Musicians that declined the invitation to the dinner, that took place at Speke Resort Munyonyo, was Maurice Kirya.
Here is the reason he gave on his official facebook, Maurice Kirya in his own words: “To all the artistes that attended the big dinner with our President, I think there has been a missed opportunity. This has nothing to do with politics and neither is it from a political angle, but rather from a musician’s perspective, a musician who has earned the right to speak on this level, and understands the struggles, of being an artiste in Uganda.
I understand that our president made some financial assistance offers to the musicians (as a whole) to better their financi…al status. This would be much appreciated but for how long will artistes survive on these kind of gestures, for how long will we ask for what we need and continue wait in vain? Did the President talk about the copyright law and its enforcement?
Did he mention why it is not enforced? Is he aware that we’ve been asking for this enforcement for so many years? Does he realize that the reason he’s giving artistes financial assistance is because the artistes have been denied the benefits of the protection of copyright law which would increase their income?
As an artiste, you invest talent, hard work, time and money and you definitely want to be paid for your works. You should be paid every time your songs are played on the radio, every time your work is used. This is a basic principal of the music industry.
Mr President is an extremely intelligent man, yet has he explained why the enforcement of this issue has been a failure?
By no means am I attacking any of the artistes or the president, but the elephant (issue) in the room was covered in food and camera flashes! I have followers and fans that believe in what I represent, and they want to emulate us and me some day,…what kind of examples are we setting, is this how we want the story to be told? Do we want kids to grow up into a fruitless artistic industry yet all it requires is governance?
I love food, I love to sit down and have a good big meal with the president, I think it would be a big deal, but the reason I turned down his invitation is because I’m interested in more important issues at this point, issues that will help the future generations of arts to come…and especially the youth! As artistes we might be a minority in the business sector in the country, but we sure make the biggest noise, we too want to reap from what we sowed and what we’ll sow, and if a big presidential dinner can fix that…then maybe I really missed that food!
About the Author
Nugu
Thank you, Maurice Kirya. Thank you for standing up for a genuine issue instead of just going with the flow. Although artistes do make the loudest noise and have tremendous followings among the public it would be heartbreaking to realise that all that power and influence can be given up just for a dinner and a selfie opportunity with the president.
Well Maurice much as I appreciate your opinion and it is yours I think by not attending you really missed the opportunity to voice this big elephant out.Who knows may be knowing you and your talent you could have been on the program and you know at your shows you share between your songs you could have brought this to the President or shared with KK the Presidents lawyer and a great lawyer who was among the organisers or Minister Anite a very passionate youthful Minister.like I said you really missed to bring this out.My advise is that leaders take up opportunities and don’t blame others be the leader you want to see Maurice you are so talented please to join the complaining group join the progressive forces and make your contribution.Aluta Continua