“Gen Salim Saleh shs49 billion” tears northern Uganda musicians

Gulu | Musicians who support West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja (WALK) and those who do not support Walk’s body are at odds with one another.

Kilama Geroge Willams, better known as Kiddy Face, and hundreds of other musicians have distanced themselves from the WALK, demanding inclusion and transparency from the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) office.

Gen Salim Saleh, the OWC’s national coordinator, has pledged his support for the WALK.

WALK was launched in Gulu City in December 2024, and promoters described it as a transformative force for both individuals in the greater northern music industry.

Kilama, who leads a group of musicians opposed to WALK, claims that some of the association’s founders are deceptive.

Many people in the northern music industry, he said, do not understand what WALK stands for.

Kilama stated that songs by legendary musicians fought for peacebuilding in northern Uganda and advocated for peace and unity.

“We were using our resources to produce songs. We are hoping for essential government support (rewards), but manipulating us with selfish individuals who sign funds from the Office of Wealth Creation will not work.”

Oryema City-boy, from East Acholi, who has been singing for 20 years, has stated that he will not associate with the “fraud association called WALK.” According to him, the association only benefits individuals, not the majority.

“We have survived without the WALK association.

“Many artists, because of WALK issues, are creating disunity and fighting which will bring loss of life between our own brother and sister in the music industry if we do not have immediate solutions,” City-boy revealed.

Tabu Bizzy Body stated that WALK has caused a great deal of segregation in the music industry, and that it spells doom for the industry. “You are working, and masquerading musicians are forming fake associations, such as Ghetto Mother. How does it concern us, the real artists?”

“What is WALK? Who is behind the WALK? We want to understand it fully,” Tabu Bizzy Body asks ONC’s Sylvia Owori.

“We want to meet Gen Salim Saleh right away, but not with gamblers pretending and scheming for money from the OWC office,” Opoka Erick aka Ezzy told Owori.

Solomon Aboda, aka Badman Solo, acting as WALK’s interim chairperson, stated that they should stop fighting each other for no reason. “We are one family. If we continue fighting, we are going to remain behind in our music industry.

“…..we must continue to preserve our culture and advocate for peace and unity in Uganda in order to achieve social economic transformation.”

Badman claimed that others are fighting for leadership.

Geoffrey Odoki, Nowya district commercial officer, who secured WALK’s legal status and registered it as a SACCO, urged musicians to prioritize teamwork to lay a stronger foundation and plan to expand to all four sub-regions.

“The SACCO would operate like the Wazalendo SACCO, which covers the entire region and transforms local society,” Odoki explained.

Odoki also urged all musicians to focus on production and investigate the level of commercial farming and other possibilities.

OWC speaks.

“It has been very difficult to provide similar support to individuals because there is a lot of competition for positions,” said Owori, a director at OWC.

She also stated that they were able to submit funding support documents for all greater north musicians to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

Owori said the requested amount is shs49 billion. “Once approved, we will begin construction of production studios in Gulu, Arua, and Lira cities, as well as the Kotido municipality. But they are the ones abusing the opportunity.”

She added that the ongoing conflict makes it difficult for the government to ensure that northern musicians benefit from the various projects.

Who is for or against WALK?

Solo, Pól Mutanga, Freeman Sunday, Simon Oyoo, Odong Wilbert Romeo, and Charles Odida, all led by Solomon Aboda aka Badman, support WALK.

Meanwhile, Kilama Geroge Willams, aka Kiddy Face, Aggrey, aka Laxzy Mover, Nyeko Simon Peter, aka Producer Usaih, and Jenneth Prisca, among others, oppose WALK.