Singer Yasin Mukasa, popularly known as Lil Pazo Lunabe, has expressed his concerns about the current state of the Ugandan music industry, suggesting that it will remain stagnant until several critical issues are addressed.
In a recent interview on the VybeLife YouTube channel, Lil Pazo reflected on the industry’s lack of progress since his rise to fame in 2015 with his hit song “Emotooka.” Transitioning from a boda boda rider to a well-known artist, he has observed little to no positive change in the music scene over the years.
Lil Pazo likened the Ugandan music industry to an electric pole, explaining that just as a pole has a beginning and an end, the industry has reached a point of stagnation with no signs of advancement. He attributes this stagnation to the lack of mutual support among artists and the delay in government action on the copyright bill.
“The Ugandan music industry has nowhere it is going. It is not either going high or going down. It is just there, simply, it stagnated. One of the reasons I say so is because wishing well for each other in the music industry is quite hard and very low,” Lil Pazo stated.
He further elaborated that the competitive nature of the industry often hinders collaboration and mutual support, contrasting it with the Nigerian music scene where artists frequently uplift one another. This lack of solidarity among Ugandan musicians, he believes, is a significant barrier to growth.
Additionally, Lil Pazo criticized the Ugandan government for its delayed implementation of the copyright bill. He argues that this delay prevents emerging talent from benefiting fully from their work and stifles the potential for future growth in the industry.
“Here we don’t support one another like how the Nigerians do. Ugandan music is similar to an electricity pole because it has where it starts from and ends, which is exactly the Ugandan industry that stopped. Even the rising artists won’t go far because even the government has delayed passing the copyright bill,” he remarked.
Despite his critical outlook, Lil Pazo remains optimistic that with the right changes, particularly in fostering support among artists and enacting essential legislative measures, the Ugandan music industry can overcome its current stagnation and thrive in the future.