A group of Ugandan musicians loyal to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has officially launched a new artistic force, the Movement Combined Artistes Association, with a bold mission: to use their voices, beats, and talent to popularize government programs and showcase the NRM’s legacy of achievements.
The association, spearheaded by veteran NRM-leaning artist Emma Nsereko, famously known in entertainment circles as Munamasaka, was commissioned on June 4, 2025, at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala.
Standing proudly beside the party’s iconic yellow banners, Munamasaka and his team declared their purpose clear:
The youth listen to music. They follow trends, not press conferences. If we want the government’s efforts to reach the ghetto, the streets, and the boda stages, then we must communicate in their language, music,” Munamasaka emphasized.
The association brings together a diverse group of singers, instrumentalists, poets, dancers, and content creators, all pledging allegiance to the NRM’s values. Their goal is to translate political ideologies and developmental policies into accessible, engaging, and memorable artistic works.
The NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, who officiated the commissioning ceremony, described the initiative as a revolutionary approach to political communication.
“A message passed through music is like a river; it finds its way into every corner, every home, and every heart. What these artists are doing is not only creative but essential in this generation,” Todwong remarked.
He called upon other youth and creatives across the country to rise above apathy and play a part in shaping national discourse.
“Gone are the days when politics was for politicians only. Today, the microphone, the camera, the studio, they are all political tools,” he added.
The launch of the Movement Combined Artistes Association comes at a time when political parties are increasingly turning to the arts and digital media to connect with younger voters.
Uganda’s youthful population, often disengaged from formal political narratives, is more responsive to messages embedded in music, dance, drama, and film.
According to Munamasaka, their association is already working on an unveiling musical project titled “Empisa Z’Obulungi,” which will feature over 15 artists in multiple languages, including Luganda, Luo, Runyankore, and Swahili.
“This isn’t about propaganda. It’s about storytelling. Real stories of how roads, health centres, education reforms, and youth skilling programs have changed lives,” Munamasaka said passionately.
However, not all reactions have been celebratory. Critics argue that such associations risk blurring the line between art and state-sponsored propaganda, potentially stifling artistic independence.
“While it’s okay for artists to support any party, we must ask, at what cost? Will these artists still be allowed to question government failures? Or will music become a tool of silence?”
Still, the NRM artists insist that their association is voluntary, self-funded, and mission-driven, and that the door is open for other musicians, regardless of political background, to join and contribute to national transformation.
The Movement Combined Artistes Association plans to roll out regional music caravans, live performances, and school outreach programs to spread awareness of government programs such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, youth skilling funds, and climate resilience efforts.
In a country where music has long been a powerful tool for both resistance and reinforcement, the rise of a pro-government artists’ alliance could reshape Uganda’s political communication landscape.
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