The local music industry has from time to time gone through one of its many rituals; the battle for supremacy between what has come to be a pejorative term, 'regional artistes' and those that operate and live in central Uganda that are simply, or perhaps respectfully called 'artistes.'

Between an 'upcoming artiste' and 'regional artiste', you will be at great pains to guess which one must hurt the most, that’s if it should hurt anyway. 

Singer Eezy, real name Eric Opoka, after years of honing his craft as a teenager rapping in Luganda and his native Acholi got his breakthrough to the main stage in 2020 after recording Tumbiza Sound. The song caught policy makers off guard after it subtly preached against following COVID-19 standard operating procedures. However, not much of Eezy has been heard of lately, suggesting to his critics he has retreated to northern Uganda, where his star likely has a permanent spot. 

On social media, a critic told him he left Kampala for his hometown, Gulu, to enable him compete with village artistes. 
His response didn’t fall short of an explanation with undertones of segregation claims propagated by mode of operation in central Uganda. 

“I have no problem with singing for my home people, in fact it’s my pride and happiness. Kindly bring me all the ‘big’ artistes you know in Kampala (combined) in my city northern Uganda. No one can out compete me and my fellow artistes in the region e.g Monopoly, Judas, Eddy, Wizzy, Lucky Dee, Maros, Bosmic, Laxzy. No Kampala artiste can outcompete them from northern Uganda. Call it hit songs, call it filling concerts etc,” replied Eezy. 

“Mind you, even before me hitting in Kampala, I was already a star in my region northern Uganda, which is even bigger than Kampala. There is power and strength in regional artistes, so put some respect. By the way, the only trick played in Kampala is to deny regional music airplay and yet in the regions, they play their music with one heart. That’s why you see regional music doesn’t cross Kampala, but we have talents in regions who even earn better than most of Kampala artistes,” he added. 

The last one year saw three major clashes because of this issue that has been sticky for a while. 

In mid 2023, rapper Big Tril and Big Ben Sukuya based in Mbale clashed, with the latter telling the former he can humble him musically if they had to go head-to-head.  
Tril swiftly responded asking his fans if they could possibly survive if they were asked, with a gun to their head, to name one Sukuya song. 

It came after Sukuya also clashed with Bruno K in January 2023 after he claimed that regional artistes breaking through in central Uganda was harder than trying to paint the sky pink. 

He argued that non-Baganda artistes based in Kampala would never make it. Ray G, he, however, added, is the only regional artiste to ever breakthrough in Kampala. 

It is important to note though, that Sukuya who raps in his native Lumasaaba, and English is no average rapper in Kampala going by the awards and collaborations he has earned in Kampala.

In late 2023, singer Azawi and Ray G had a standoff on stage during a session of Comedy Store at University Inn, Mbarara that was interpreted by the public as a regional battle for supremacy.

The tension was conspicuous, going by sentiments shared online. However, that was shortlived after the two artistes met, sorted out their differences and shared a photo sitting cross-legged and smiling ear-to-ear in January 2024.