TAKEAWAYS

• Victor Kamenyo has quit active participation in UMA, citing lack of transparency and accountability.
• The rapper alleges UMA cannot account for over UGX 100 million reportedly received from the Uganda National Musicians Federation.
• UMA Treasurer Big Eye says the matter is administrative and should not be discussed publicly.

Rapper Victor Kamenyo has announced his decision to distance himself from the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA), citing concerns over what he describes as a lack of accountability and transparency within the organization.

Kamenyo, who was elected to represent the hip-hop genre on UMA’s executive board, claims he has been left in the dark regarding key decisions and financial matters despite holding a leadership position.

According to the rapper, UMA allegedly received more than UGX 100 million from the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), but members have not been given a clear account of how the funds were utilized.

“I was elected to represent hip-hop artists on the UMA executive board, but I honestly do not know what is going on. There is no transparency, and questions about the money have not been answered.”

Kamenyo revealed that he attempted to seek clarification from UMA President Cindy Sanyu, Treasurer Ibrahim Mayanja alias Big Eye, and federation official Isaac Rucci. However, he says his efforts yielded no satisfactory answers.

The rapper further disclosed that inquiries made at UNMF confirmed that the funds had been remitted to UMA, prompting him to demand accountability from the association’s leadership.

“I am not asking for the money because I need it. I am financially stable. I am asking on behalf of the artists who entrusted me to represent them. I don’t want my name associated with anything that cannot be explained.”

Kamenyo says the situation has forced him to stop attending UMA meetings and distance himself from the association’s activities in order to protect his reputation.

When contacted for a response, Big Eye maintained that certain administrative matters cannot be discussed publicly and insisted that financial issues within the association should be handled internally.