Singer Wycliffe Tugume alias Ykee Benda has added his voice to that of several other artistes who have celebrated the suspension of two top officials of the artistes’ management body by Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB).
On Monday, URSB issued a statement affirming that they have suspended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) James Wasula, and his compliance officer Dickson Matovu over alleged mismanagement of finances.
And according to the ‘Munakampala’ singer, who was recently elected as the Vice President of Uganda Music Association (UMA), this suspension is going to yield positive results in the music industry.
“Thank you URSB for this big step, We as UMA couldn’t be more proud and grateful, this day will go down in history as the day Uganda Music was changed forever,” he said on social media.
Several artistes have always complained on how UPRS collects royalties from music users like Radios, Televisions, bars, clubs among others on their behalf, but after, they don’t share these proceeds with them.
This prompted artistes to form a new association ‘UMA’ with a motive of defending and fighting for what rightfully belongs to them.
The association’s board has several artistes who include, Sophie Gombya (President), Ykee Benda (Vice President) Renah Nalumansi (Secretary), Big Eye, Levixone, Swaba Kasumba, Bushington among others.
According to URSB’s press statement, these UPRS officials were suspended because of poor financial management of artiste’s funds.
“The suspension of the above officials is to allow for an effective ongoing inquiry unto the constitution working and financial conditions of the society in accordance with the above provision of the law. There have also been a number of complaints from members of the society with allegations of mismanagement of finances and remittance of royalties collected from rights users which URSB would also like to look into critically,” reads the statement in part.”
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