Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) President Cindy Sanyu has shared her thoughts on why Ugandan music is still struggling to shine beyond its borders.
According to Cindy, the biggest problem is that people with money — not necessarily talent — are the ones pushing their music to the top.
She says the industry is built on a “pay-to-play” system, where airplay often depends on how much money an artist has, not how good the music is.
“What’s killing our industry is that Ugandans with money are often the ones pushing their music forward, but they lack the talent to compete, especially on the global stage,” Cindy said.
Still, she remains hopeful. Cindy believes many Ugandan musicians are now working harder to improve the quality of their music so they can compete internationally.
“We’re working to improve the quality of our music so we can compete,” she added.
She also praised foreign artists for bringing fresh sounds that inspire Ugandans to be creative. But she warned that copying too much from outside can drown out Uganda’s unique musical style.
