Dancehall artist Ziza Bafana, whose real name is Richard Kasendwa, has publicly lambasted the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) for its perceived failure to support artists effectively.
In a recent statement to the media, Ziza Bafana expressed his disappointment with the UNMF, particularly criticizing the outcomes of their recent visit to the State House in Entebbe. Despite high expectations, the meeting did not bring significant improvements to the music industry, although a select few individuals have reportedly benefited.
Ziza Bafana applauded Bobi Wine for his earlier critique of the federation’s excessive spending at Hotel A’lure in Mutundwe. He suggested that the Shs5 billion allocated for artists would be better spent on establishing a permanent home for the music community rather than continuing to rent hotel spaces.
The dancehall star also voiced his dissatisfaction with the handling of Sacco funds, which were initially promised to support artists. According to him, the current practice requires artists to pledge their property to secure funding for projects, contrary to the initial assurances.
“It would make more sense if the allocated funds were used to build our own facilities instead of renting hotels. The promised Sacco money is not being handled as initially promised, and artists are now forced to stake their property to access funds,” Ziza Bafana stated.
