TAKEAWAYS

• King Saha says musicians cannot honestly claim to be completely detached from politics.
• He argues that political decisions directly affect people’s livelihoods through the allocation of public resources.
• Saha believes musicians should take clear positions instead of hiding behind brand protection.

Ugandan musician King Saha has criticised fellow artists who regularly claim that they are not actively involved in politics, arguing that such a position is impossible given the influence politics has on people’s everyday lives.

Saha, who has for several years publicly identified with the National Unity Platform (NUP) and expressed strong support for its president, Bobi Wine, said musicians cannot separate themselves from political issues while remaining members of society.

According to Saha, politics affects almost every aspect of people’s lives, particularly because politicians are responsible for making decisions and controlling resources that directly affect citizens.

“Any musician who says they are not involved in politics is lying to themselves,” Saha said.

He argued that musicians should also understand that being concerned about politics is not necessarily about supporting a particular political party, but rather about showing empathy and concern for fellow citizens.

Saha further compared political involvement to religion, saying that just as people are expected to care about the wellbeing of others, they should also pay attention to how their leaders govern.

“If resources are not appropriated well, people are going to suffer, so how can you say you are not involved in politics?” he asked.

His comments come at a time when politics has increasingly become intertwined with Uganda’s entertainment industry, often creating tension between musicians and their fan bases.

Some fans have accused artists of remaining silent about issues affecting ordinary Ugandans, while several musicians have maintained that they prefer to protect their brands because they have supporters across different political camps.

However, Saha believes artists should be more decisive about where they stand and should be willing to defend their convictions regardless of the criticism that may follow.

For him, staying away from political conversations does not remove musicians from the consequences of political decisions that affect the society in which they live and work.