Claim That Eddy Kenzo "Conned" Museveni Is False and Misleading

An X post from @KampalaJournal on September 28, 2025, alleged that Ugandan musician Eddy Kenzo "reaps big after conning Museveni during 'Yoweri' album launch where dozens of insatiably gluttonous musicians conferenced to have a share of taxpayers money." Accompanied by a photo of a political rally, the post—viewed over 2,500 times—implied fraud and waste at a high-profile event. While the 'Yoweri' album launch did occur, the claim distorts facts, misuses unrelated imagery, and fabricates scandal.

The post portrayed the launch as a scheme where Kenzo and "gluttonous" artists exploited President Yoweri Museveni for public funds. It suggested lavish personal gains from taxpayer money, using derogatory language to mock participants.

A screenshot of the false post by the Kampala Journal claiming that Eddy Kenzo conned President Yoweri Museveni.

What the Evidence Shows

The 'Yoweri' album launch was a legitimate cultural event on September 27, 2025, at Speke Resort Munyonyo's Rwenzori Convention Centre in Kampala. Organized by the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) chaired by Eddy Kenzo it featured 13 original songs blending traditional Ugandan rhythms (like Runyankore, Gisu, Lusoga, and Acholi) with modern beats to celebrate national heritage and promote artists globally. Dozens of musicians performed, including Kenzo, in a festive atmosphere attended by Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, cabinet ministers, MPs, and promoters. Museveni officially launched the album, praised the UNMF for organizing ("finally getting organised"), performed a rap verse, and committed government support for the creative sector, including copyright reforms.

Museveni publicly commended Kenzo's honesty, stating, "I am very happy with the honesty of Eddy Kenzo because the money we gave him, he used it,"

referring to prior federation funding for artist welfare not personal enrichment. Coverage from NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, NBS Television, and New Vision described a "full house" of appreciative artists honouring Museveni's industry support, with no reports of financial impropriety. The album's production was crowdfunded via fan donations and federation resources, not direct taxpayer allocations for the event itself.

The attached photo? is unrelated: It shows an NRM political rally with a "Njaa Ohudoola Yoweri Kaguta Museveni" ("Hunger has ended under Yoweri Kaguta Museveni") sign and "Protecting the Gains" banners NRM's 2026 manifesto slogan from an Eastern Uganda event on September 27. Album launch visuals, by contrast, featured stage performances, cultural attire, and artist collaborations, as documented in live streams and photos from UBC TV and Capital FM.

Minor online chatter questioned UNMF's invitation process for inclusivity, but no credible sources alleged fraud or waste. Museveni's remarks included a lighthearted "revelation" claiming Kenzo as the son of late NRA hero Brig. Chef Ali framed as motivational, not contentious.

@KampalaJournal, a sensationalist account with 46,000 followers promoting ads, recycled a rally image to smear the event, fitting its pattern of anti-NRM clickbait.

Context and Why It Spread

As Uganda gears up for the 2026 elections, cultural initiatives like this blending art and politics draw scrutiny. The launch doubled as a subtle NRM endorsement, with artists expressing gratitude for subsidies. Misinformation exploits this to paint patronage as corruption, but facts show a positive milestone for Uganda's music scene.

Baseless accusations undermine artists' efforts and public trust in cultural funding. In a vibrant industry contributing to GDP, such smears stifle progress. Verify with outlets like NTV or Daily Monitor before sharing.