By Prossy Namiiro
Musician Cindy Sanyu and her UMA leading team are in their last days. Musicians under the umbrella of Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) are warming up to exercise their right of voting.
The exercise is due and a number of artists have shown interest in the big seat by picking and submitting their nomination forms.
Due to lack of funds, the elections are to be Virtual and so far, Cindy is clinging on the seat as she wants another term, musician Mansur Semanda aka King Saha and Soul music star Maurice Kirya have shown interest in becoming the next UMA president.
Cindy says she has not fully exhausted her plans given the Covid 19 lock down which affected her manifesto so she needs another chance to execute them.
Through a social media post, Maurice Kirya said many musicians have reached out to him asking the busabala singer to lead them. Among the artists who asked Kirya is Bebe Cool who also used his social media to make a public request.
I always mind several things when choosing a leader and a few of them my brother Maurice Kirya has for UMA president.
He is educated, displined, good conduct, experience, approachable, open minded,welcoming, always listens, taba muntalotalo, exposure, age and the ability to unite both those who like and don’t like you.
Dear brother, I with due respect request you to accept my proposal for you to be the new UMA president because am sure so many artists in Uganda will agree with me on this.” Bebe Cool said
Bebe Cool also said that neither King Saha nor Cindy deserve to be voted as UMA president because Cindy has failed to connect with people who don’t agree with her while Saha’s image is not befitting for the presidency.
“Both do not deserve because Cindy has been there and things have gone wrong. She does not have checks and balances. As musicians, we have a problem with her because we have been divided yet she should be the mother figure uniting us. If she wanted to be a good leader, she would’ve served both the musicians that like her and those that don’t but if you disagree with her, it becomes a war. Saha’s image is not befitting for a president. I for one cannot vote for Saha. Saha clearly states it live on TV that he abuses drugs. However, if those two are the only candidates, then the only option would be Cindy.” He said
Adding Bebe Cool’s request to others, Kirya accepted and admitted that he is the fairest of all.
“I’ve observed and experienced all the ups and the downs the Ugandan industry has faced and I’m truly amazed by the number of musicians who’ve contacted me and asked me to lead them as the next President of UMA, an important task that I know and believe that I’d carry out to the best of my ability.
That being said, I’m able and willing to receive the honor to join my brothers and sisters in the race for the next Ugandan Musicians Association President, to unite, develope and better the music industry.” Kirya shared
Afro soul musician Kenneth Mugabi, in Support for Kirya asked for the ballot papers.
Musicians Ykee Bender and Sheebah have endorsed King Saha.
Sheebah says Saha is the only trust worthy candidate who will solve the copyright law issues in the industry.
Ykee Bender who resigned from UMA as president in 2021, penned down a long post on his Facebook account explaining why all artists should stand behind King Saha as their next president.
“The reason I’m voting for King Saha is because I trust him, I’ve dealt with him for the past 5 years. He is a man of his word, and I trust him to be my president because he knows how bad we need this to work, he is an active musician that has something to lose if he messes up with anything. I believe King Saha can be trusted with our leadership because he is very good, loves the industry so much and is within our reach. So to all my brothers and sisters in the arts industry, the right person is King Saha.” Ykee Benda said.
Saha has also got the twenty signatures from elders in music who second him for the post. Among them is Fresh kid.
Singer Dan Ssempijja aka Omukunja atasera has stood in for Cindy and said she is still the right candidate for presidency.
“For all the time I have keenly followed issues between artists and UMA, I have realized that Cindy is not the problem. She is the only selfless leader on the team who has always looked out for everyone including the upcoming artists. The problem is with people like Phina Mugerwa and the likes. If Cindy leaves, artists will have lost a great leader. ” He Said
Omukunja has also picked nomination forms from UMA as he is interested in the General Secretary’s seat. He says Phina Mugerwa should follow artists Halima Namakula, Big eye and King Micheal who he says quit the association because they had stolen enough.
“Uganda Musicians Association will get the right team of leaders after Phina Mugerwa leaves. You will see artists like Papa Mesach Semakula, chameleon, Moses Matovu joining. Good people cannot join the association in the presence of bad people.” He said
Musician and songwriter Kalifa Aganaga has also shown interest in the Vice President seat as he recently declared through his social media.
“As a talented singer, song writer, producer, I feel that I am the right person to be the Vice-president of Uganda Musicians Association (UMA). I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenges and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive toward. I’m not comfortable with settling, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. I have a strong desire and determination to succeed.” Read part of Aganaga’s post.
