By Wycliff G; Ugandan multi award-winning singer Eddy Kenzo’s life in Ivory Coast continues deteriorating day-by-day ever since most African countries declared total lockdowns after the COVID-19 Pandemic breakout.
This has prompted concerns from both his friends and fans worldwide and the most recent one has been raised by his musical manager Martin Beta Muhumuza in a heart-warming open letter addressed to the government of Uganda seeking Eddy Kenzo’s airlifting from Côte d’Ivoire.
According to Beta, the COVID-19 lockdown got Eddy Kenzo in Ivory Coast where he had travelled on 12th March to represent Uganda at the MASA Festival 2020 in Abidjan which took place on 14th March.
It meant that no aircraft was allowed to fly in and out of Uganda with immediate effect as declared by the President of Uganda, H.E YK Museveni.
Since then, the ‘Tweyagale’ singer’s stress to return to Uganda has often ended up unproductive despite receiving free airlifting offers from his friends in Côte d’Ivoire like African soccer legend, Didier Drogba.
Beta says Eddy Kenzo’s current lifestyle in Ivory Coast is worrying since its extremely very expensive to live and often hit with language barrier because it’s a French speaking state.
He also stresses point of Eddy Kenzo bearing different responsibilities back here in Uganda like; a single father who is supposed to be take care of his family in this lockdown, head of the Big Talent Entertainment with a number of employees to support, the Big Talent Soccer Academy founder with children and coaching staff to cater for, director Eddy Kenzo Foundation which consists of countless vulnerable groups to provide for.
Read Martin Beta’s letter in full;
An Open Letter to Uganda
#LongStatementAlert
This statement is so full of the annoying truths and please bear with me if anything gets to your nerves.
Eddy Kenzo is a Ugandan musician and the biggest music export Uganda has ever owned. Due to this Pandemic, the lockdown found Eddy Kenzo in Ivory Coast and couldn’t return home because all passenger flights were suspended worldwide. Eddy Kenzo left for Ivory Coast on 12th March to represent Uganda at the MASA Festival 2020 in Abidjan which took place on 14th March and all was a success.
He was supposed to return home 2 days later and unfortunately Ethiopian airlines kept on changing his flight because of what is happening until the final suspension of all passenger flights and he found himself locked in Ivory coast.
Ivory Coast is a very expensive country and their only official language is French (language barrier)
He has to pay Hotel charges on a daily basis and feed every day.
He has a family to take care of in Uganda.
He has Big Talent Entertainment staff to support.
He has Big Talent Soccer Academy children and coaching staff to cater for.
He has activities of Eddy Kenzo Foundation and they have to keep moving.
The list is endless………
Eddy Kenzo as an asset to Uganda .
- Office of the Prime Minister:
I Present to this office the matter of Edrisa Kenzo Musuuza (EDDY KENZO) one of the biggest contributors to this great nation in different sectors as broken down below in different Ministries.
- Ministry of Tourism, wildlife and Antiquities:
Since Eddy Kenzo’s entry in the entertainment industry, he has waved the flag so high with respect and this has lured many tourists to come to Uganda.
Eddy Kenzo has directly contributed to this sector when he donated his biggest awards to the Uganda Museum i.e. the first ever BET Award won by a Ugandan/East African and the first ever musician to win this award in the world(BET International viewers’ choice award) AFRIMA, KUNDE etc. (these awards in the museum generate income for the country and inspire everyone who learns the story of Eddy Kenzo).
- Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development:
In the fight and struggle to eradicate unemployment. Eddy Kenzo has contributed by directly and indirectly employing over a thousand Ugandans in all his establishments i.e. The big Talent Band, the Eddy Kenzo Foundation Staff, the Big Talent Entertainment Staff, The Big Talent Soccer Academy Staff, Banq Records Staff, Promoters, house helpers etc…
It is evident that Eddy Kenzo has contributed towards the eradication of unemployment in Uganda.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
As an icon waving Uganda’s flag abroad Eddy Kenzo requires the attention of this office, because it is partly through this office that foreign leaders can talk and see how such icons are returned to their nations.
- Ministry of Internal Affairs:
This is the Ministry responsible for immigration and citizenship, as a law-abiding citizen Eddy Kenzo has contributed towards the immigration sector through his endless international travels over the years, it is because of such travelers that the immigration service keeps up and running.
- Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs:
In the fight against crime, Eddy Kenzo is employing many youths as stated above and this means some of these youths that would have engaged into crime are all occupied by their duties for Eddy Kenzo.
- Ministry of Education and Sports:
Eddy Kenzo is an inspiration success story and a teacher through his music, this helps educate the nation which is the main mandate for the ministry of Education.
Eddy Kenzo started up a soccer academy which is directly contributing to sports because he is maturing future national players.
- Ministry of Information and communication Technology:
This sector handles media and information, and as we all know Eddy Kenzo is one the biggest content creators of Uganda. This means he is providing our media houses with content.
- Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development:
As an Artist whenever he travels, he brings the money home and it is all spent and invested in Uganda. Meaning he is contributing to the finance of the Country.
Whenever Eddy Kenzo holds an Event/concert many sectors get business i.e., TVs, Radios, City Councils, Events Companies, Events Producers, Sound engineers, Dancers, Makeup artists, boda bodas, deco companies, Ushering companies, Security clearances, Newspapers, Graphics Designers, outdoor advertising screens, ticketing companies, vendors DJs etc.
Like other countries who have airlifted their people from Uganda , Eddy Kenzo too can be airlifted and the Ministry of Health can put him under Quarantine for as long as they wish (as long as he is in his homeland).
As I write this today COVID19 cases in Ivory Coast are rising at a high speed and anything can happen (God Forbid).
It will be of great shame if anything happens to such an asset to this great nation (God Forbid) just because we all chose to ignore his importance.
Let us not wait to praise or appreciate his corpse, such icons need care and love when they still live.
For God And My Country.
Thank You All.
CC: Musuuza Kenzo
Office of the Prime Minister
Ministry of Tourism, wildlife and Antiquities
Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs
Ministry of Education and Sports
Ministry of Information and communication Technology
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
#BringBackEddyKenzo
Imbaraga wishes you a safe stay as you practice the World Health Organization’s advised precautions of combat COVID-19, will keep you posted.
