Music is no longer just entertainment, according to Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo.
Posting on X after the July 31 Atakulaba Akunyooma concert, a cultural celebration honouring Kadongo Kamu, Uganda’s oldest mainstream music genre, Thembo said the country’s creative industry has the potential to become one of the biggest drivers of economic growth if Uganda continues investing in the artists who laid its foundation.
He argued that preserving music means protecting more than culture because it also strengthens an industry that creates jobs, generates income and powers the country’s growing digital economy.
Music is far more than entertainment; it is content, culture, and a critical economic driver for our nation.
Thembo believes Uganda’s transition from physical music sales to digital streaming should benefit the pioneers who laid the foundation of today’s music industry instead of leaving them behind.
He also challenged the common perception that telecommunications revolve solely around infrastructure, arguing that the real value lies in the content people consume every day.
According to Thembo, music now accounts for more than half of data consumption among Uganda’s more than 11 million TikTok users, making the preservation and digitisation of the country’s musical heritage a national priority.
The transition from physical music ownership to the digital age of instant access must not leave our pioneering creatives behind. Telecommunications isn’t just about masts, SIM cards, and data pipelines; it is about the content flowing through them.
Thembo made the remarks as UCC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting veteran musicians, arguing that Uganda cannot build a sustainable creative economy without recognising the pioneers who shaped the country’s musical identity.
He also thanked Ugandans who bought tickets to the Atakulaba Akunyooma concert, saying their support helps preserve Kadongo Kamu and honour the legends who built the genre.
Music is far more than entertainment; it is content, culture, and a critical economic driver for our nation.
Speaking at the Ataakulaba Akunyooma concert last Friday, I emphasised why @UCC_Official and the Government actively support our legendary Kadongo Kamu icons. As we push… pic.twitter.com/5Yg45W9iBA
— Hon. Nyombi Thembo (@UCC_ED) August 3, 2026