Artistes shun Mamuli Katumba fundraiser

By Isaac Baligema

DESPITE massive publicity and advertisement for the 'Save Mamuli Katumba Charity Walk' held Sunday in Kampala to fundraise money to help send veteran Kadongokamu singer Mamuli Katumba fly to India for an operation, only a handful of artistes turned up for the event.

Less than a million shillings was fundraised for the singer who needs at least sh200m for medication.

The walk that started in the morning at National Theatre to Ggaba Beach mostly fans who turned up to show support for the 'Naigaga' singer who is battling diabetes, hypertension and kidney complications.

Some of the notable artistes that turned up included Da New Eagles Band director Geoffrey Lutaaya and Queen Florence among upcoming artistes as well as former Buganda Katikkiro JB Walusimbi. 

The fundraising event held at Ggaba Beach managed to raise sh670,000!

Lutaaya was enraged by the failure of his colleagues to show solidarity and said it is high time artistes acted more responsibly.

"I am not quite shocked because most Uganda artistes are money-hungry and if they are not going to get money somewhere, they cannot turn up; many attend burials because they know people will be excited to see them and praise them.

This must change and we should act more responsibly and mature because Mamuli is our own," Lutaaya fumed. 

On Friday many established artistes turned up at Speke Resort Munyonyo to meet President Yoweri Museveni for a dinner where the head of state offered them sh400m to start their SACCO.

Artistes are known to show solidarity whenever there is any issue affecting any of their own but this was not the case during Mamuli's fundraising drive.

The singer has been bedridden for months and last week the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Katumba Wamala offered $2,500 to help the singer with medication.

The coordinator for Uganda Music Promoters and Venues Owners Network (UMPONET) Tony Ssempijja, the body which organized the event said that they will continue to encourage artistes, friends and fans to fundraise the money to fly the singer abroad for the operation. 

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