Arua Artists, Musicians Clash with JM Kennedy Leadership Over Unpaid Dues and Accountability

By Daily West Nile News Desk
Hotel Le Confidentiel, Kampala — October 13, 2025

Tensions ran highyon Monday at Hotel Le Confidentiel in Arua as artists and musicians under the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) clashed with the current leadership led by JM Kennedy over allegations of unpaid performance dues and poor accountability.

The meeting, convened by UNMF President Eddy Kenzo, exposed deep frustrations among members who claimed they had not been paid for performances at NRM campaign rallies held at Golf Grounds earlier that evening.

According to Kenzo, artists were divided into three payment clusters — with Cluster One promised UGX 2 million, Cluster Two UGX 1 million, and Cluster Three UGX 500,000 per performer. 

However, several musicians reported that they never received the promised funds, sparking outrage within the federation.Beyond the payment row, artists accused Kennedy’s leadership of failing to provide accountability, neglecting regular communication, and favoring certain regions over others.

 “The federation cannot operate like a private business,” one artist said. “We deserve to know how the money is being used and why some members are sidelined.”

In response, Eddy Kenzo urged affected artists to formally petition the Federation to suspend a UGX 100 million fund reportedly about to be transferred to West Nile artists’ accounts. 

Many members expressed shock at the revelation, demanding a full audit and transparent explanation from the current leadership.

The ongoing standoff underscores the growing call for transparency, accountability, and unity within Uganda’s creative sector.

 As investigations continue, pressure mounts on the UNMF leadership to restore trust and integrity among its members.

Stay tuned to Daily West Nile News for further updates on this developing story.📍 Follow us on Facebook | X | Instagram for real-time entertainment updates across Uganda.