In Uganda, the music industry is a vibrant and ever-evolving landscape. However, beneath the surface of fame and fortune lies a harsh reality that many musicians face – financial struggle. Despite their success, many Ugandan musicians find themselves broke, homeless, and struggling to make ends meet when fame fades away.

The music industry is known for its fast-paced and competitive nature. Musicians rise to fame quickly, but their popularity also fades rapidly. When a musician’s music is no longer in demand, their income dwindles, leaving them without a steady source of income as most of them live lavishly and don’t have any savings for rainy days.

Many have reported struggling to pay rent, buy food, and access basic necessities. In extreme cases, some musicians have even become homeless, forced to live on the streets or rely on the charity of others.

Early this week Singer Red Banton real names Tony Lubega appeared on a local television saying that he was grassing ,homeless, no fees for his children and cannot sustain his family.

“I have been staying in Bata Bata but the rent was increased and I cannot afford it anymore. Rent is now UGX 400.000.I cannot afford fees for my children nor sustain myself and family. I feel like a moving corpse,” Banton said.

Many Ugandan musicians fail to plan for their financial future. They often spend lavishly on luxuries, without investing in assets or saving for the future. This lack of financial discipline in planning leaves them vulnerable to financial shocks when their music career slows down.

The music industry in Uganda is often focused on short-term gains, rather than long-term success. Musicians are often pressured to produce hit songs quickly, rather than focusing on building a sustainable career. This leads to burnout and a lack of longevity in their careers.

Singer Qute Kaye real name Ivan Kavuma emerged as a promising musical sensation in the early 2000s ,capturing the hearts of fans with his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics. He sang hits like Ginkese,  Gwentota , Nyumirwa Obulamu , Linda Yesu and others .

However after a few of his hit songs , the Ginkese singer disappeared from the music and resorted to drug abuse something he later blamed himself of lacking control over.

Singer Lillian Mbabazi was in September 2023 dragged to authorities over failure to pay rent. Her landlord accused her of defaulting her rent for 17 months’ worth UGX27m .The lawyer to her landlord Sitran Deshpande claimed that she had run away from the house hence dragging her to police.

To break this cycle, it is essential for Ugandan musicians to prioritize financial discipline, planning, invest in their future, and diversify their income streams. This includes exploring other revenue streams, such as teaching music, producing music for other artists, or investing in music-related businesses like leisure and hospitality something that Mesach Ssemakula and Geoffrey Lutaaya have ventured in and are earning income.

Ugandan Musicians need to understand  the root causes of this problem, and take steps to protect their financial future and build a more sustainable career.