Pallaso Defends Eddy Kenzo Amid Backlash from Veteran Artists
Team Good Music singer Pallaso has come out in defense of Eddy Kenzo following the growing criticism directed at the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) president over his recent remarks about the older generation of artists.
Kenzo sparked widespread debate after stating in a recent interview that many artists from the past generation have little to show for their years in the music industry, citing a lack of tangible investments such as owning homes.
His comments did not sit well with several Kadongo Kamu veterans, including Willy Mukabya, Ssebatta, and Kibijigiri, who emotionally responded in a joint appearance, accusing Kenzo of disrespecting their legacy and contributions to Uganda’s music industry.
However, Pallaso believes the backlash stems from a misunderstanding of Kenzo’s message rather than the intent behind it.
Speaking during an interview, Pallaso explained that Kenzo was highlighting systemic challenges that historically prevented artists from fully benefiting financially from their music. According to him, the issue was never about discrediting past musicians, but rather addressing the broken structures that denied them long-term rewards.
“I can only tell them to calm down. They might have misunderstood his statement. He wanted to say that this generation of artists on social media has found ways to earn from their music. Maybe he didn’t bring the message out well, but that is what I see,” Pallaso said.
He added that artists from previous generations produced timeless music that continues to influence today’s industry, yet many failed to reap financial benefits due to piracy and exploitative systems.
“They made music that flows even to us, but never earned anything. They were robbed more than us. They would have so much to show off,” he added.
Pallaso further pointed out that even today, many musicians still rely heavily on stage performances as their primary source of income—something that was even more limited in the past.
He emphasized that this is the reason current artists are pushing for the passing of the Copyright Bill, which is expected to create more revenue streams and ensure musicians earn fairly from their work.
The debate has since sparked broader conversations about artist welfare, copyright enforcement, and the need to protect Uganda’s creative industry across generations.