President Yoweri Museveni has urged musicians and performing artists to compose songs that transform and portray Godly values rather than just adopting western music styles and also sing to communicate in an informative manner and commendable manners instead of singing for purposes of sound and rhythm.
In a speech read by him by Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi during the 6th edition of the Annual Christmas Carols Festival of the Choristers Association of Uganda at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel, the President said that the Christmas season and end of year festival should remind Ugandans about the resolution to work hard for the nation and for individual households in a bid to banish poverty and further efforts to create wealth for prosperity.
The Choristers Association of Uganda is a faith based association that brings together all Catholic Choirs in the country to showcase new gospel music that accompany worship and praise in the churches.
This year 13 Choirs from the Catholic faith and two Choirs from the Anglican Church have participated in the event that has been running under the theme “Rejoice mighty daughter of Zion; for the Mighty has done great works; Holy is His Name.”
The President added that music has enormous benefits to mankind and has existed since the beginning of human civilization and it has power to affect moods, stimulate brain cells and is powerful enough to be therapeutic, bring all people together and is a powerful educative and informative tool whose purpose should be to build the community and not break it.
President Museveni commended such spiritual musical events and guided that they become organized with increased participation of the youth in order to preserve our values and heritage.
“If you compose songs of hatred, you are likely to reap a bitter society,” the President said.
The President said that there is need to appreciate that the music industry is an institution that puts into play aspects of humanity that are inherent in all of us and portrays the lives that we lead regardless of our cultures.
The President donated Shs10 million to the association to enable them start a washing bay to improve and boost their financial self-empowerment. The Vice President also donated Shs3 million to them.
