Western Uganda Artists speak up on New Regulations
Ainembabazi Dorothy.
Artists and stakeholders in the entertainment industry in Western Uganda have protested government’s new regulatory proposals that require singers, poets, comedians to submit their works and scripts for review and approval by government agencies before they can be released to the public.
Among the new guidelines for the entertainment, a musician is required to first seek permission from the committee before recording any video of the approved song and must also inform the committee of the venue he/she is going to record from and must include in all materials to be used in the video.
Speaking to Croozefm, a song writer Ruben Uwizera also known as Ruben from the Pulse UG band, says it will be difficult for one to travel to Kampala to ask for permission to shoot a video hence he calls upon the leaders to first meet with artists, producers and comedians before enacting such laws.
Taremwa Paul aka T-Paul 256 says the laws being pushed have not been discussed enough with artists which he says is unfair adding that sending their work first to the agencies will be expensive especially for upcoming artists.
T Paul hence calls upon the government to do enough research on who benefits from this industry before coming up with any regulations.
Additional guidelines include, Video/film producers, photographers who take photos of artists before doing any business with artists, they must first seek permission from the committee.
One of the producers in western Uganda Mushabe Buruno has told Crooze FM that these are ridiculous decisions adding that they are unrealistic, politically motivated which he says is a witch-hunt.