TAKEAWAYS

• Pallaso says Eddy Kenzo was misunderstood in his comments about pre-2000 musicians.
• He argues veteran artists suffered from piracy, weak copyright systems, and limited income channels.
• Pallaso says today’s generation benefits from social media, streaming, and Kenzo’s copyright reform efforts.

Musician Pallaso has come out strongly in defense of Uganda National Musicians Federation president Eddy Kenzo following the backlash over his recent comments about veteran Kadongo Kamu artists.

Kenzo, while appearing in an interview with Eddie Sendi, argued that musicians from the pre-2000 era, despite their immense talent and hard work, were not able to build as much wealth from music as today’s generation. He challenged those who disagreed to point out what many of those artists can physically show from their music careers, such as houses and other major investments.

The remarks sparked anger among Kadongo Kamu legends and fans, culminating in a recent meeting where veteran singer Fred Sebatta was seen emotional, with many calling on Kenzo to apologize.

However, Pallaso believes the public rushed to judge Kenzo without fully understanding his point.

“What Kenzo meant is that the old generation worked extremely hard, but piracy and poor systems denied them the chance to benefit fully from their music.”

According to Pallaso, artists from that era were victims of widespread piracy, while telecom companies, Uganda Performing Rights Society collections, and even government systems often took significant portions of their earnings. As a result, many ended up with timeless hits but little financial reward to show for it.

“Those musicians gave us timeless classics, but they lacked social media and the many revenue streams today’s artists enjoy.”

The Malamu hitmaker added that today’s musicians are in a better position because of digital platforms, brand deals, streaming, and social media monetization, opportunities that were unavailable to older generations.

Pallaso also credited Kenzo for pushing reforms in the music industry, especially efforts toward strengthening copyright law so artists can earn beyond stage performances.

In his view, the controversy is more about misunderstanding than disrespect.

He maintained that Kenzo’s intention was not to undermine veteran musicians, but to highlight the difficult environment they operated in and the progress the current generation is now benefiting from.