Artists like Bebe Cool, Ziza Bafana and Jose Chameleone stand a risk of denial from international performances because they are musically illiterate -- at least according to a new policy that has been passed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs stating that "for any musician to get a Visa or have their Visa renewed, they must have studied music".
This new directive will affect many artists in Uganda because the biggest percentage started music more as a talent than a career and certainly never went to school to pursue it.
Afrigo Band's Award winning audio producer, television and radio music analyst, Joe Tabula in his statement says:
“Ministry of internal affairs forcing Ugandans, to forge documents. Reports coming from the above ministry indicate that any musician or artists who wants to renew their passports are required to produce formal documents as proof that they actually studied music!
This is a sector which accommodates anyone with talent regardless of any formal music training or education, how then do you expect all musicians to have documents such as certificates in music, diplomas, degrees, etc!
How many music schools do we have in Uganda? In addition, for the few that we have, how long have they been operating to be able to train all Ugandan musicians that might need passports?
And this being a must requirement, how do u then expect those musicians with no formal music/art education/training to prove they are musicians in order for them to have their passports renewed or granted as its their right to own one! To make matters worse they go on to advise those without this requirement to sign for their passports as business men!!!!
Please!!U are living us no option, but to forge such documents! It’s a very sad situation as to how things are done in this country Uganda!!
I therefore kindly urge that very “intelligent official” that came up with this crazy idea, to apply common sense…and make some adjustments asap.”
This is a sector which accommodates anyone with talent regardless of any formal music training or education, how then do you expect all musicians to have documents such as certificates in music, diplomas, degrees, etc!
How many music schools do we have in Uganda? In addition, for the few that we have, how long have they been operating to be able to train all Ugandan musicians that might need passports?
And this being a must requirement, how do u then expect those musicians with no formal music/art education/training to prove they are musicians in order for them to have their passports renewed or granted as its their right to own one! To make matters worse they go on to advise those without this requirement to sign for their passports as business men!!!!
Please!!U are living us no option, but to forge such documents! It’s a very sad situation as to how things are done in this country Uganda!!
I therefore kindly urge that very “intelligent official” that came up with this crazy idea, to apply common sense…and make some adjustments asap.”
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