A new study has revealed that the majority of Ugandan Artists are struggling financially, which has since turned them into beggars, a study about the status of freedom of artistic expression in Uganda has revealed.
The study conducted by the Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF Uganda), an umbrella body that bring together several artistic bodies including Pearlwood, an umbrella organization of filmmakers in Uganda, Uganda Musicians Associations (UMA), an umbrella organization of musicians in Uganda and Foundation for Human Rights Initiative -FHRI, found out that financial instability coupled with ignorance about their Rights are among the major challenges being faced by Uganda’s artists
This, according to the study is forcing them (artists) to dance to the tune of foreign support bodies and Stated sponsored organizations.


“The negative impact of lack of royalties and how it affects Artistic freedoms was well acknowledged by participants who noted that it put creators’ ‘life on the edge and depending on new works only to earn a living,” the report reads in part
“In support of the submission on the impact of lack of royalties on artistic freedoms, another interviewee had this to say. Without royalties, artists keep poor and needy and therefore bow to pressures from powers that be who are the same holders of the monetary resources that artists so much seek,”
The study was conducted between September October and December in Kampala, which is believed to be the main home to various artis business centers and with different artistic works.
Dr. Micheal Muhumuza, the Lead researcher from Makerere University while speaking at the validation workshop at UNCC headquarters in Kampala, explained that the emphasis was placed on Kampala because was it has majority of cases of showcasing artistic work as well as violation of artistic freedom were more rampant compared to other cities and rural areas of Uganda.


For comparative understanding of the subject matter, several districts including; Ajumani, Gulu. Hoima, Moyo, Mukono. Iganga, Sembabule, Masaka Mbarara, Kisore, and the Diaspora were reached.
It covered a total of 310 respondents who were drawn from different sectors including; bloggers/journalists, human rights scholars, human rights activists, music artists, theater artists, writers, art (ists) managers, lecturers of creative arts, artists leaders, politicians, cultural leaders, law enforcement officers, and creative arts scholars.
“Restricting the expression of artists.through mandatory permits, was the highest form of violation of artistic freedom at 32 % response, followed by political harassment at 29% response, then violation of International Human Rights protocols followed at 16 %. hard penalties, excessive censorship, moralizing the arts and misunderstanding tenets of artistic expression came with 12%,9%, 6%, 2% respectively,” it adds.
The study further stated that artists lack a uniform professional body that unites them but rather there are many bodies that claim to be working for artists, “but it was problematic to know the mandates upon which they function,”
Tho, the study said has hardened the collection of royalties, which is not institutionally organized neither is it evenly distributed among the artists.
“Lack of of strong and specific organizations involved in collection of royalties was deemed to affect Artistic freedoms negatively since it denies artists from benefiting from their intellectual property rights adequately, hence leaving them at the mercy of “sponsors”, it reads.


It acknowledged that the negative impact of lack of royalties and how it affects Artistic freedoms, including putting creators’ “life on the edge and depending on new works only to earn a living.
“Without royalties, artists keep poor and needy and therefore bow to pressures from powers that be who are the same holders of the monetary,”
“Among the efforts that could mitigate violation of artistic freedoms of expression Capacity building among the artists, mindset change among the artists and other stakeholders, sensitization of the artists and stakeholders about artistic freedom, and composing art pieces that advocate for artistic freedom,” the report reads.
Fina Mugerwa, the Secretary General of UMA in her response to the study admitted that ignorance is among the problems facing artists especially musicians.
“We have seen several Musicians entering Deals and they end up being cheated just because they are ignorant about their Rights,” she said adding,
“UMA would like to partner with Organizations like FHRI so that we help our Artistes since we are facing many challenges but majority associated to laws,”


Fredrick Deric Namakajo, the Secretary General of PANAF Uganda said that the study was paramount since little had been known about the artists’ challenges.
“Because of the special role that the creative sector plays in all aspects of life such as education, health, family, and leisure, but despite all it plays, little has been documented about the right and freedom of artists,” he said
Recommendations
The study called upon Parliament to ensure that it passes effective measures to protect artists and cultural workers from precarious working conditions and that the nature of the gig economy does not prevent artists from continuing to work in the sector
It further recommended direct government intervention, by introducing a governing body to oversee the creative arts industry including the training of Ugandan artists so that they can gain professional skills and elevate their craft to the next level.


Artists themselves were also recomended to organize themselves into a professional union, “which will give them a higher bargaining power when it comes to exploiting opportunities or resolving disputes,”
“This will help members to form a strong professional body of artists who have the ability to lobby and advocate for constitutional reforms and protection of freedom of expression, including for artists like other developed nations,” it reads.
The study further, recommended an increased sensitization for both the artists and the public, especially regarding the artistic freedom of expression by educating the artists on their rights to artistic freedom so that artists, consumers and regulators of art have awareness on how to exploit already existent opportunities.
“Civil society organizations and international bodies can work to raise awareness about the importance of artistic freedom and the dangers of censorship and repression. This will enable both sides to understand and fulfill their obligations and improve artists’ sensibility to legal issues in art,”
