Musician Moses Ssali commonly known as Bebe Cool has told off fellow artiste and politician, Bobi Wine for criticising musicians that had gone to meet Gen. Salim Saleh.
In a lengthy social media missive Mr. Ssali pointed out that although only a few musicians met Gen Saleh, their main purpose was to solicit for relief finds for all Ugandans and not musicians only.
He explained that the whole meeting was to lobby for inclusion of Ugandans into the money economy and the Operation for Wealth Creation.
He added that whatever finds artistes get from Gen Saleh are not handouts (as Bobi Wine had pointed out) but are classified as 'financial relief.'
Bebe Cool went on to boast how he met both the general and the President to discuss the challenges the entertainment sector was facing and wondered why Wine would not critcize him.
The Gagamel boss thus begged Bobi Wine to stop politicising everything and instead solve problems Ugandans are facing.
"Time for politicking ended on 14th January. Ugandans need tangible solutions to their day to day problems." Mr. cool wrote.
A few days back, a group of musicians met with Gen Salim Saleh reportedly begging for relief cash for artistes. However, Bobi Wine criticised them for acting like chickens begging for handouts from the oppressive government.
Below is Bebe Cool's full response to Bobi Wine.
"I would like to respond to the statement made by Bobi Wine today belittling artists for having gone to meet General Saleh in Gulu.
First and foremost, every artist who went to Gulu did not meet Gen. Salim Saleh but rather the chief coordinator operation wealth creation which has it’s main mandate to include all Ugandans into the money economy.
Before operation wealth creation was put in place, about 70% of Ugandans were living outside the money economy and as per now the number has reduced to about 39%.
Ugandan musicians belong to the creative arts sector under different associations though about 80% of the stakeholders live outside of the money economy hence the need to meet the general, discuss the challenges in the industry and also lobby for funds which have always been channelled through UNCC/F.
I personally have met general Saleh and the president to discuss the challenges in our creative arts industry, not forgetting my personal issues too (using my social capital).
I therefore want to correct my young brother Bobi wine on his ignorant post that whatever funds artists get from the general are not handouts but rather entitled financial relief.
Therefore I want to thank General Saleh for engaging the artists in this fight to find the solution to the challenges in the creative arts. Let me also thank and encourage the artists to continue engaging all government arms, Members of Parliament and well-meaning individuals in this fight not forgetting that our brother was once in Parliament but never presented a single private members bill on the Creative Arts industry in Parliament.
Anyway, Iknow you have always seen artists meet General Saleh but you chose to post negatively this time because it was not just artists meeting General Saleh but rather Dr Jose Chameleone who is your direct lifetime music competitor.
Today you travelled to solicit for funds from foreign funders for your personal benefit yet you know they have to get paid back at the cost of Uganda’s peace.
Time for politicking ended on 14th January. Ugandans need tangible solutions to their day to day problems."
