By Mulengera Reporters
Hon. Nyombi Thembo, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director(ED) has urged Ugandan musicians and other creatives to abandon the habit of blaming technology for the challenges facing the music industry, saying digital disruption is inevitable and those who fail to adapt risk becoming irrelevant.
Delivering an address on Thursday during the unveiling of the “My Song, Your CallerTune” campaign at Next Media Park in Bukoto, the UCC boss said that the future of music lies in digital platforms that connect artists to millions of listeners and viewers across the world.
The campaign, launched under a partnership between UgaTunes, MTN Uganda and Next Media, seeks to empower local musicians by enabling MTN subscribers to set Ugandan songs as their caller tunes while creating a new source of income for artists.
The launch attracted creatives from across the country, including veteran artist Dan Kazibwe (Ragga Dee), who joined fellow creatives in witnessing the new chapter for Uganda’s music industry.
Speaking with the conviction of someone who has lived both as a creative and a public servant, Thembo reminded the audience that he is not merely implementing UCC’s legal mandate but is also deeply passionate about the creative arts, revealing that he is a playwright, songwriter and producer, saying his love for the industry has always driven him to champion initiatives that improve the welfare of Ugandan creatives.
“There is mandate, but there is also passion,” Thembo said, explaining that while UCC is obligated to promote Uganda’s communications sector, supporting innovation in the creative industry is something he personally believes in.
He challenged musicians who continue complaining about technological changes to instead embrace them, noting that every generation has witnessed disruption, from magnetic tapes and vinyl records to cassettes, compact discs, MP3 players and now streaming platforms.
“In technology, we don’t mourn disruptions. We wake up, pick up our pieces and move on,” Thembo said, adding that the era of relying on physical music ownership is long gone because today’s audiences consume music through instant digital access.
According to him, platforms such as UgaTunes present Ugandan artists with opportunities far beyond the country’s borders by making their music available to millions of listeners while opening up new revenue streams through caller tunes, streaming and digital distribution.
He disclosed that although some people initially struggled to appreciate the concept, UCC stood firmly behind the initiative because it recognized its potential to transform Uganda’s music industry. Hon. Nyombi credited the collaboration involving Next Media, MTN Uganda and other stakeholders for taking what he described as the first important step towards a digitally empowered music ecosystem.
He further appealed for stronger collaboration between government institutions, the private sector and industry players to nurture talent from church choirs, school music festivals and community groups all the way to professional careers. He also called for deliberate efforts to help artists manage fame, protect their reputations and build sustainable careers beyond producing hit songs.
Founded in 2021 and headquartered at Next Media Park in Naguru, UgaTunes is a Ugandan digital music distribution, publishing administration and streaming platform that enables artists to distribute their music to international streaming services while receiving earnings through convenient local mobile money payments. Through the newly launched
Presiding over the launch as chief guest, State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Gender and Culture) Mary Grace Kutesa Kamuli urged creatives to embrace the digital transformation, saying the future of the industry belongs to those who adopt technology rather than resist it. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
