Comedians decry newly set laws for artistes
Jul 18, 2020
"To be honest, majority of the articles in the law, are outlandish and only fall short of being an embarrassment to the framers of that law."
ENTERTAINMENT
Earlier on this week, Government announced a set of regulations under law for the arts Industry and since then, a section of players in the same industry have come out to decry the regulations, on grounds that there is lots of unfairness in them.
Representing comedians, The Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA) has come out with an official stand on these laws in as far as comedy is concerned.
"We acknowledge, with shock and dismay, the passing of laws that are purported to regulate all forms of art in Uganda which include comedy, music, stage plays, fine art, poetry, to mention just a few.
We shall come to the laws themselves later but first we want to express our disappointment with the manner in which these laws were passed," said TUCA through a letter of disappointment.
The statement also revealed that before the release of these proposed regulations for all artistes in Uganda, TUCA, among several other artiste bodies, held a meeting with the State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Peace Mutuuzo at the National Theatre, and upon that meeting, Mutuuzo assured them (artistes) that she had taken their suggestions into consideration and would get back to them in regard.
Alas, comedians and other artistes suddenly got to know that, instead of receiving feedback from the Minister as agreed, regulations were made into law and under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, which they believe is not the line Ministry for arts and culture.
"Regarding the articles in the law, we are pained to learn that all our suggestions were never put into consideration and instead, alien articles were inserted into the law.
To be honest, majority of the articles in the law, are outlandish and only fall short of being an embarrassment to the framers of that law.
We, therefore, outrightly reject and denounce, in the strongest terms possible, the newly passed laws to govern Arts and Culture in Uganda," said Emma Napoleon, spokesperson of TUCA
He added that the articles are a big impediment to the growth of arts and culture in Uganda; a sector which is moreover largely neglected by the policy makers in this country.