Acholi traditional artistes cry foul as 2026 campaign money flows to contemporary musicians

Nwoya, Uganda: As Uganda gears up for the 2026 elections, various groups are positioning themselves to tap into the lucrative market of campaign mobilization. 

Some contemporary musicians, singers, and artists have already been contacted to compose and perform in praise of different contestants. Some were chosen for their popularity, while others have been selected on the basis of their large followings, which candidates hope to leverage to attract more potential voters.

However, traditional artists who promote Acholi culture and tackle local issues are being left out. These artists perform in groups with traditional instruments accompanied by traditional dance moves, promoting the artistic Acholi culture and traditions while tackling issues that deal directly with the local community. 

Some of the key issues addressed include access to education, the inadequate lack of healthcare services and facilities, GBV, land grabbing, and child labor, which are the key items in most of the candidates’ agendas or manifestos.

Among such groups is “Lakuc Pe Wor,” translated as “A Peaceful person doesn’t quarrel” Adungu Group, who are based in Coner Olwiyo Village in Purongo sub-county, Nwoya district. 

The group, comprising 30 members, i.e., 20 males and 10 females ranging from the age of 20 years to 60 years, was formed in 2024 with the aim of mobilizing communities in tackling common challenges while preserving and promoting Acholi dance and culture. This is according to Ojara Joseph, 45 years, the founder of the group.

“We formed this group to promote our culture and traditions while addressing issues that affect our community, such as lack of access to education, inadequate healthcare services, GBV, land grabbing, and child labor,” Ojara says. 

Speaking at a performance of the launch of the manifesto of Christine Lanyero, also known as Mego Larem, the sister to General Otema Awany, who is contesting for posting of Woman MP Nwoya district on an NRM ticket, Ojara hopes that his group will be invited, just like their counterparts, contemporary musicians, to help in mobilization engagements for the different candidates.

“We want to be treated the same way as others and not be treated like we don’t impact our communities, especially when passing mobilization messages,” Ojara adds. 

When asked whether they were officially invited for the launch of this manifesto and how much they will be paid, Ojara says they were not invited and don’t expect to be paid because there was no official invitation to them. “By coming here uninvited, we believe that many people will get to know about us and they’ll give us business in the future,” he states.

Unlike the Lakuc Pe Wor Adungu Group, many contemporary Acholi artists were invited to entertain the guests at the function, some coming from Nwoya and others coming as far as Gulu City, many miles away from Coner Olwiyo, where the Lakuc Pe Wor Adungu group comes from, the place where the manifesto launch took place.

All of whom were paid not less than 100,000 shillings for those from Nwoya and more than 300,000 shillings each for those from Gulu, according to one of the local singers, Obina Fiona Oroma, who goes by the stage name Fifi UG Amani.

“I was invited to perform a few songs and be paid 100,000 shillings,” Fifi UG Amani says.

Unlike Fifi UG Amani, who will be paid 100,000 shillings to play only a handful of songs, the Lakuc Pe Wor Adungu group, comprising 30 members, had, by the time of this interview, entertained guests for more than an hour while waiting for the candidates to arrive at the venue. They may not, if not for the good heart of their host, walk back home without a penny.

The 2026 election campaign is expected to be one of the most monetized campaigns in Uganda’s election history, with billions of shillings already being spent by the different political parties only in the primary elections. Trillions are expected when official campaigns begin, most of which will go into mobilization efforts, an area where musicians and groups like the Lakuc Pe Wor Adungu group expect to reap big from.

Whether these trillions of shillings will trickle down to groups such as the Lakuc Pe Wor Adungu group remains to be seen. However, 20-year-old Opio Brian, the youngest member of the Lakuc Pe Wor Adungu Group, is optimistic. 

“The election is just getting started,” he states. “Given our skills and the love the community has for us, the money will eventually come through.”

Omona Denis already has plans for the expected electoral returns. “We shall put the money in good use so that we make more out of it. We shall have a revolving fund where members can benefit and use the money for their own investments while giving interest on the group’s accounts,” he says.