On a recent episode of Morning Xpress, Abitex, a well-known event promoter, opened up about the difficult experiences he and his colleagues have faced while in Gulu City to visit Gen. Salim Saleh.
Abitex shared how Gen. Salim Saleh welcomed them to Gulu with an encouraging email. However, despite this warm welcome, the reality on the ground was tough. “Promoters have many problems, and a lot of these challenges are caused by the artists themselves,” Abitex explained. He recalled that they had to sleep in rooms costing only 15,000 shillings, highlighting the hardships promoters endure. Meanwhile, bloggers often sensationalise their struggles just for likes, spreading misinformation.
The situation took a more serious turn when Abitex and other promoters visited Gen. Salim Saleh’s home. According to Abitex, Gen. Saleh told them that their journey as promoters storming Gulu every time was over. “He reminded us that he has supported us since 2021 but questioned why we were ambushing his home,” Abitex said. He revealed that they were charged with four offences, including trespass, and were not allowed to speak in their defence. “He told us to vacate Gulu immediately,” Abitex added.
Reflecting on the government’s attitude, Abitex believes that both Gen. Salim Saleh and the government cannot simply ignore or tire of them. “I think they fear us because they understood us back in the Kyalenga days,” he said. He explained that the government never expected the music industry to produce someone capable of running for the presidency.
Abitex also criticised the government’s long rule, stating, “This government has been in power for 40 years, yet they still don’t understand or make plans to support the music industry.” He expressed frustration at the failure of ministries to do their job, saying, “Why else would we have to come to Gulu if the ministries were doing what they’re supposed to?”
He also revealed that Gen. Salim Saleh tried to study the promoters but never truly understood them. “He once told me that we promoters almost overthrew the government because we brought politics into the artists, investing in them to sing revolutionary songs,” Abitex shared.
Despite the challenges, Abitex remains determined to continue supporting artists and promoting events, hoping for better understanding and collaboration with government officials in the future.
