Ugandan Concerts Have Lost Meaning – Douglas Lwanga

Media personality Douglas Lwanga has sparked debate after sharing his concerns about the current state of concerts in the Ugandan music industry.

According to Lwanga, staging a concert in Uganda today requires massive effort, serious preparation, and huge financial investment — but the returns, especially in terms of recognition and value, are no longer guaranteed.

He believes the industry has shifted focus from real music performances to unnecessary drama, with media platforms prioritizing gossip and trivial issues over artistic quality.

Douglas argues that instead of highlighting vocals, stage presence, and live performance, headlines now revolve around who wore what, who embarrassed themselves on stage, or which celebrity caused drama.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Lwanga wrote:

“2026 reality: An artist spends three to four months working tirelessly to organize a concert. After all that effort, the headlines the next day focus on who wore what, whose makeup failed, who tripped on stage, and every bit of drama while barely anyone talks about the actual performance. So what’s the point of putting on concerts in 2026? Do concerts truly add value to the UG artist? Artists gather here!”

The outspoken media figure has since challenged stakeholders — including artistes, promoters, and media houses — to reflect on whether concerts still hold meaningful value in today’s industry.

Douglas Lwanga notes that years ago, concerts were a major yardstick for success, and whoever held the biggest and most successful shows would automatically dominate the music scene.

However, he says that is no longer the case, as concerts today seem to be staged for mixed motives — branding, clout, social media moments, and controversy — rather than pure musical excellence.

His remarks have resonated with many in the industry, with some agreeing that Ugandan concerts are slowly losing their core purpose: celebrating real music and live performance