The 2026 general elections’ dark campaign clouds are gathering, and musicians are scampering to collect cash that’s raining down from the NRM secretariat’s office. As its custom, politicians take advantage of musicians’ popularity to canvas votes and entertain supporters at campaign rallies.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) being the party in power and therefore the wealthiest, splashes the most cash during campaigns. Uncoordinated reports have been circulating online alleging that Eddy Kenzo, president of Uganda National Musicians Federation and senior presidential advisor on creatives, blocked Bebe Cool, a top Ugandan reggae and ragga musician, from receiving money from the NRM secretariat.
It’s reported that Eddy Kenzo advised officials at the secretariat not to release funds to Bebe Cool, but instead plan to include top artists from all regions of Uganda, such that there is diversity, inclusion, and representation from different regions of Uganda at the various campaign rallies.
It’s alleged that Kenzo’s foresight didn’t augur well with Bebe Cool and other top artists. In his defense, the “Stamina” singer confirmed that he never stopped the secretariat from releasing funds to Bebe Cool and his camp, but rather advised that top musicians from other regions of the country should also be considered.
“I never stopped the party from releasing funds to Bebe Cool because he’s the one still in charge. I only wanted the government to also cater for regional artistes — that’s what I’m mandated to do. When I was invited to the Secretary General’s office, I advised them to get five regional artistes to join the top ones from Kampala at every campaign rally, and they accepted the idea,” he clarified.
