Big Talent boss Eddy Kenzo has reacted to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)’s new directive to have artists and events organizers acquire permits before advertising or holding any concert.
In addition to clearances from police, counter-terrorism, KCCA, local council, NEMA, URA, and other offices, all artists with a plan of staging any shows will now be required to seek clearance from the communications regulatory body.
While addressing the press and giving his view about the new directives, the UNMF president acknowledged that however much they would abide by the rules, it was unfair to the artists.
In his submission, Eddy Kenzo doesn’t see the need to access all these offices citing they are all government bodies.
Eddy Kenzo further questioned whether the new directives would benefit the music industry or if they had been introduced for selfish reasons.
“If we are supposed to get a license just the same way we do in different offices then why is UCC doing all this? Which other professions require people to get all those permits? If all other offices clear you to go on for a show but then get denied by UCC after paying all the offices, what happens? However much I’m a senior presidential advisor and president of UNMF, I’m an artist and I need to question all this,” Eddy Kenzo questioned.
Eddy Kenzo also called upon fellow artists to unite and sit down with the government so as to challenge what he believes is double taxation.
The Executive Director of UCC, Nyombi Thembo appeared in a press conference emphasizing that there will be no advertising any events online, on radio, or television without having a license and anyone who goes against these new directives will face consequences.
They won’t stop at that but go as far as sending their officers from UCC who will be appointed and gazetted as inspectors to halt these shows
Thembo revealed that the permit would cost Ugx. 100K and when applied for, it would be issued in less than ten minutes.