The hullabaloo around the cancellation of Bobi Wine’s music shows and a couple of other incidents such as Chameleone pulling a microphone off Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa at his concert are believed to be part of the motivations for the 14-page document, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has released to regulate the entertainment industry.
To help you appreciate the document better, here is summarized version of the proposed laws that are mostly likely going to affect the creative arts sector.
- Every artiste will need a license from the Ministry of Culture in order to be allowed to operate in Uganda as a performing artiste. It’s illegal to practice public entertainment when you have no license from the Ministry of Culture.
- No artiste will be permitted to shoot a music video without attaining permission from the Ministry of Culture.
- An artiste shall be restricted to performing in only one venue unless the given time frame to his/her next performance is after four hours.
- An artiste shall strictly be allowed to perform for not less than an hour and not more than two hours.
- No artiste will be allowed to perform abroad unless you have attained permission from the Ministry of Culture.
- Indecent artistes shall not be allowed to step on stage. The artiste and director shall both face the Disciplinary Committee.
- Every Event Promoter must provide a hygiene kit to each performing artiste at an event.
- Any artiste who uses vulgar language while on stage will have his license immediately cancelled.
- An artiste who takes drugs (cocaine, marijuana) before his/her performance commits an offence and will therefore be punished.
- An artiste or public performer shall ensure proper hygiene before public performance or entertainment.
- Any artiste who performs abroad without a license shall be disqualified as an artiste for a year and then go through training and rehabilitation.
- There shall be a censorship board that will consist of a disciplinary committee. Its role will be to filter entertainment content and ensure discipline among the artistes.
- Every artiste or entertainer shall have to register their music or work with the Uganda National Culture Forum.