By Bebyo

Revelations have emerged about how Ssempijja, Owori, Gen. Kayanja, and Angina allegedly exposed Gen. Saleh’s actions in relocating Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) business from Kamwokya to his private working base in Gulu.

General Caleb Akandwanaho, alias Salim Saleh, has a storied history of establishing private bases in remote locations, from Garuga to Namukekera and now Gulu. A battle-hardened war hero, General Saleh is known for his preference for solitude, a trait respected by those close to him.

Gen. Salim Saleh’s appointment by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the overseer of Operation Wealth Creation marked a significant turning point in his career. However, his reputation was initially tarnished when his associates, including Tony Ssempijja, Ronald Kawuki, and Dj Kikofila, arranged private meetings between him and local musicians like Lord Fred Ssebatta and the Kiweewa’s.

Interestingly, Gen. Saleh has had a long and complex history, from his early days as a rebel fighter to his rise through the ranks of the Ugandan military. Born Caleb Akandwanaho in 1960, he adopted the name Salim Saleh during his time as a rebel fighter in Mozambique.

Gen. Saleh's military career has been marked by both controversy and achievement. He played a key role in the National Resistance Army's (NRA) guerrilla war against the government of Milton Obote, and later became a high-ranking officer in the Ugandan military.

The Ugatunes project, backed by Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja, aimed to support Kadongo Kamu artists struggling with loan sharks and bank loan receivers. The project involved buying music catalogues from these singers, but here’s the twist – the same rights had already been sold to music distributors like Kasiwukira and Lucin.

This isn’t an isolated incident; many artists have sold their music catalogues to companies and investors. For instance, Bob Dylan sold his entire publishing catalogue to Universal Music Publishing for an estimated $300-400 million. Similarly, Stevie Nicks sold a majority stake in her songs to Primary Wave for $100 million.

These deals often involve significant amounts of money, but they can also lead to complexities, as seen in the Ugatunes project.

The Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) initiative took an interesting turn in 2017 with the Kadongo Kamu Agricultural theme song competition, which was won by Sebbata.

However, let’s rewind to 2014 when Brenda Nanyonjo, the then Miss Uganda beauty pageant franchise holder, approached General Saleh with a proposal to merge beauty and wealth creation.

Although this partnership didn’t last, Sylvia Owori, the former owner of the Miss Uganda franchise, managed to secure a position at the OWC office in Kamwokya.

As the beauty pageant collaboration began to fade, Owori played a pivotal role in creating the OWC-sponsored Janzi Awards Ceremony, working alongside top UNCC officials like Mr. Okello Okello. The Janzi Awards were tipped to replace Isaac Mulindwa’s Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM) Awards.

Sylvia Owori’s efforts to establish the Janzi Awards Ceremony seemed promising, especially after allegedly securing the backing of Lt. Gen. Charles Angina. However, the awards were marred by controversy, ultimately leading to their demise. Despite the initial hype, the Janzi Awards failed to survive beyond their first year, never celebrating a second anniversary.

It appears that during the COVID-19 lockdown, General Salim Saleh’s private bases experienced a surge in visits from various entertainment sector groups.

These groups, including the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA), Uganda Promoters Association, and producers, were led by Ms. Owori and later Esther. Their primary objective was to meet General Saleh in Gulu, likely to seek financial support or guidance.

Interestingly, this influx of visitors wasn’t limited to the entertainment sector. Businessmen, investors, and even witch doctors also flocked to General Saleh’s private bases, seeking an audience with the influential figure.

It appears that General Salim Saleh’s private bases, particularly in Gulu, became a hub for various delegations and visitors, rendering the official Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) office and staff redundant.

To address this issue, General Saleh wrote an open letter to Edirisa Musuuza, also known as Eddy Kenzo, who is the presidential advisor on creatives. In the letter, General Saleh politely but firmly asked Eddy Kenzo to control the delegations, as they were interfering with his other work.

General Saleh emphasized that his private bases are not public spaces and that there is an officially designated office in Kamokya, equipped with departments and capable staff to handle such matters.

This move was likely intended to restore order and streamline operations within the OWC initiative.