General Salim Saleh, the head of the Operation Wealth Creation and best friend of Music and art industry in Uganda, Last week caused a stir in the Music industry when he penned a note of disgust over musician’s conduct.
Saleh in his trademark hand written notes on November 11, 2024 wrote to Mr. Edirisa Musuza aka Eddy the president of Musicians Association and Senior presidential Advisor on creatives asking him to reign in on his constituent to spare his works in Gulu.
The 3 – paragraph letter warns musicians to stop flocking Gulu City (Saleh’s tactical command center) where they’ve lobbying for assistance in organizing Xmas festivities, Saleh says they’re interfering with his work. This is the most shocking of all activities to musicians from General Saleh known to be the most patient and resilient high-ranking personality for the artists, mis-conduct.
Saleh is the name behind the Careers of Uganda’s top-notch artists and has been struggling to organize the industry for more than a decade. He has invested close to 1 trillion shillings in reorganizing, supporting and empowering in the industry and conclusively.
At a micro level to which many artists view General Saleh, he is simply a kind and generous man ready to meet every need from rent, feeding, loans and organizing shows. They therefore flock all bases where they learn that Saleh, has pitched camp, they stuff all hotels and night clubs in Gulu, eat, drink, dance and party and leave house bills for Saleh to pick.
One would wonder what budget and motivation Saleh uses to meet hundreds of demands from this sector.
Yet at a macro- level, General Saleh’s love for artists is not innocent, it’s a political, economic and security activity to contain negativity and opposition that would otherwise come from a disgusted large yet influential force of the creatives.
Saleh has spent quality time and resources on tiktokers, bloggers, Artists, Musicians and show organizers to understand the bigger picture albeit unsuccessfully.
Great questions, who reap from Uganda’s creative industry, what is the future like for Uganda’s music and art? What is the value of Uganda’s music and what value system is in place to guarantee wealth creation for the Men and Women who spend their quality time and minds writing and recording songs, plays, comedy skits and drama, among others?
The question transcends the artist’s minds and should find answers from the floor of parliament, from UCC, from the ICT and national guidance ministry. Unfortunately, no evidence is available that these discussions have reached their boardrooms.
In one of my mind-boggling interactions with the actors, I hoped Saleh will finally solve this equation for wealth Creation, Stability, Security and preservation of our industry. If Micheal Jackson’s works continue to earn trillions long after his death, is Paul Kafeero’s family still fetching anything. Bassudde or Bongole Lutaaya? My hope was that steadily, we could get there but now that even Saleh is tired, who will help hold and give meaning to our music & art? if not addressed now, the Creative industry, the reckless Pentecostals, the bloggers, tiktokers, so called netizens are a bigger threat to our security and future than Besigye and Bobi Wine’s stunted struggles.
Saleh should keep in the tunnel with his constituents, for no one else can contain them. And now that Saleh is tired……!
About the Author
Sir Simon Muyanga Lutaaya is a journalist whose career spans over two decades. He is passionate about business, social -economic transformation, and neonatal health. He can be reached on 0703700309 or Email. Smlmediacgmail.com.