Lira, Uganda | A section of musicians from Lango sub-region have protested their exclusion from an upcoming thanksgiving ceremony for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, scheduled for April 18, 2026, at Lango College in Lira City.
The artists, who say they played a key role in mobilising support for the President during the 2026 campaigns, accuse the organising committee of sidelining them in favour of headlining acts such as Jose Chameleone and Juliana Kanyomozi.
During Museveni’s campaign rallies in Lango late last year, several local musicians including Brazen Rule, Lil Square, Professor Maros, Tee Boy, Gye Slence Igwe, General Ice, Vera, amongothers reportedly moved across districts rallying voters. At least 14 of them composed a campaign song in support of the President.
However, the draft lineup for the thanksgiving event reportedly features only a few Lango-based artists, including Brazen Rule, Professor Maros and Okeng Born Town, leaving out many others who participated in the mobilisation efforts.
Emmy Ongom, also known as Blood Moon, the Northern Uganda coordinator of the Uganda National Musicians Federation and president of the Lango Musicians Association, said more than 60 artists from the sub-region were involved in campaign activities.
“Fourteen of our artists even composed a campaign song for the President. His victory here was partly due to our mobilisation, so it is unfair that we are being underlooked,” Ongom said.
He questioned the criteria used in selecting performers, arguing that resources should prioritise those who actively participated in the mobilisation.
“If the organisers cannot increase the number of performing artists, then the funds allocated should be used to support those already selected from Lango,” he said.
Another prominent artist, Walter Ogwang, popularly known as Lil Square, echoed similar concerns, saying artists who supported Museveni during campaigns endured public criticism but are now excluded from benefiting from the thanksgiving event.
“We stood firm and mobilised support despite the backlash. It is disappointing that those who did not participate are now being prioritised,” he said.
Lil Square further claimed that hiring top performers could cost tens of millions of shillings—resources he believes would be better used to uplift local musicians. He warned that failure by organisers to revise the lineup could result in a boycott.
Meanwhile, Tee Boy has appealed to the Lango Paramount Chief, Moses Michael Odongo Okune, to intervene and ensure that the concerns of local artists are addressed.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the chairperson of the organising committee were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
Background
President Museveni’s visit to Lango is part of a series of thanksgiving tours aimed at appreciating regions that delivered strong electoral support in the 2026 presidential election.
In Lango, Museveni secured about 83.9%, defeating his main challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who garnered approximately 11.17%.