President Museveni
In a bid to protect ownership of composers’ craft and also build a big economy for the expanding population in Uganda, President Museveni has directed the office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to resolve the issue of copyright which artistes are clamoring for.
“On the side of music, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Gender need to resolve the issue of copyrights. It is not fair not to protect ownership of composers. That is how we shall be able to build a big economy for our expanding population,” the president said during the State of the Nation address.
As the country struggles with bulging youth population unemployment challenges, president who has been in power since 1986 is optimistic about economic growth given the fact that many youths are active in music and sports.
“In music, we have been assisting some groups and individuals to build recording capacity in the country. Gen Salim Saleh has been coordinating the music groups,” he said.
Gen Saleh, also known as Caleb Akandwanaho is president Museveni’s brother and national coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
The president also pledged to provide capital and equipment to talented groups at local levels in the countryside citing, Artists are one of the Presidential Initiatives on Wealth and Job creation (Emyooga).
Mr Museveni, 78, also stressed that his government was deliberately focusing on sports by building stadiums and training facilities.
“With our growing economy, we shall do much more for sports. It is good therefore that East African Countries together, put in a bid for AFCON, the continental football competition of 2027,” he said during the event at Kololo.
“Apart from Namboole and Nakivubo, we need more world class stadiums to be built. It does not matter whether they are government or private as long as they are in Uganda,” he added.