Concert Promoters Demand Share of Ugx 33bn Gender Ministry Funds for Creatives

Ugandan music promoters have asked the minister of gender, labour and social development Betty Amongi to explain why they are not among the beneficiaries of the Ugx 33 billion that the government of Uganda allocated to the creative sector in the 2025/2026 financial year.

The promoters that included Abbey Musinguzi of Abitex Promotions, Luba events and other promoters based in Kampala told reporters while at the ministry offices in Kampala on Tuesday 29^th, July, 2025 that they had come to meet the minister over what they termed as discrimination because they also want to be given a portion of the money to help them in their events management businesses.

Promoter Abbey Musinguzi said the money they need will help them boost their SACCO to support their event management businesses.

“How can the government allocate money for all creatives in Uganda and exclude promoters yet it is we that create jobs for artistes. Its promoters that need more money because the business we do is risky and it’s the reason why many of our colleagues are indebted,” he said.

He blamed this on Eddy Kenzo,who is the president of artistes Federation and a presidential advisor on creatives.

“It’s Eddy Kenzo who refused the government from including us as beneficiaries of this money and as a result we have also banned our members from booking him for their shows as a protest for sidelining us on the money,” he added.

In a recent Television Interview, Eddy however clarified and said that the money is not for sharing among creatives and its not for different artistes SACCO’s but its for capacity building to help organize and professionalize the entertainment industry.

“The money is to help in the creation of the copyright management system that will help artistes get paid for the creative works and the balance will be given to the different government agencies to develop the creative industry,” he noted.