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DRUG ADDICTION: The Cancer Eating Up Uganda Music Industry

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The Uganda Music or the Entertainment industry has been here for a long time, something we all agree with. But what has really made it stand all that time with the entertainers being their day in and day out? www.timesug.com investigative team went down on the ground and brought to you the mind-blowing facts about the drug abuse and addiction in the music industry – This has ruined talents and definitely, phased out some artistes and entertainers from the scene. It is the invincible cancer that is eating up the industry.

We shall precisely mention some names here of artistes that had talent to bring out this whole picture,who due to drug abuse, they vanished and their talents were buried. Fantom Lovins, this did a monster hit called Ompalulula, the next we heard was that he was almost running mad because of substance. Then Qute Kaye, he was a darling to Ugandans for his monster hit songs like Jinkeese, Nyumirwa Obulamu, Osindise Asitamye, Tudddeyo Gyetwasokera among others.

The next time to hear about him was on the 24th of May 2018 and under arrest at Nateete police station for stealing car head lights. Drugs could shift him from being a darling musically to a thief. It is further known that his addiction was hard to fight since he buys drugs where no drug agencies can access and crack down. And it is the same place where most musicians buy from the too like the legendary Maddox Ssematimba.

Another house hold name is Keko, the female rap talent that we no longer have due to drug abuse that Ugandan music industry may not regain. Known for her hit songs like How We Do It, Fly Solo, Let Me Go, Make You Dance and many more, Keko won hearts of rap music lovers with her energy in her songs. It known that after she was signed by Sony Music Africa, the music started to evaporate and she released one song there after.

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The next wasted talent Uganda music industry lost due to drug abuse and addiction is a one Henry Tigan. We would actually place him in the musical legends by now if he kept the tempo flowing musically, and he is known for his songs like Abogezi, Out of Control, Waddawa, Aneganyi, Muzzudde and many more. Now let us look why these artistes and entertainers take drugs.

According to veteran singer Ragga Dee, he says that the Uganda music industry drug abuse and addiction is being activated by the artistes’ need to get the vibe high in studios and while on stage. He continues to say that most of them think that if they don’t apply the substance to their heads, they will be so confident to entertain a huge crowd under their feet with ease. This eventually results to addiction which makes it so hard for the affected people to get over it.

Many other artistes are falling under this category but we shall give you a few for now and it is also said that people in suits that spend their time on computers are also addicts only that their lives are not on the spotlights.

WHERE DO THESE DRUGS COME FROM?

A one supplier while talking to a local media house NBS Television in an interview and interaction, he says the substances come from countries like China, Brazil, India, Pakistan. He adds that they are shipped through Mombasa, in Kenya  and are brought in containers and it takes around over 5 months to be delivered.

The same source reveals that the  mode of transporting these substances is by putting them into curtains, the areas where curtain rails pass. He adds that they used to transport them in people’s stomachs after swallowing them while in condoms until security at airports became so strict.

WHAT DOES THE UGANDA POLICE SAY ABOUT THIS?

Police says that the Cartel is very hard to crack as they maneuver and they don’t use major roads while coming in the country. Fred Enanga the police spokesman says that these dealers may be passing through non official areas at boarders and can not be put out 100 percent.

Enanga adds that there is a system where the Anti Narcotics police is to be with artistes back stage to monitor their actions before hitting stage. But blames it on the system by saying that they have not been doing it. Hence the increased use if the substances.

WHAT IS A DRUG ABUSE Vs ADDICTION?

Drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.

There are over 200 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 30. This has led to drug addiction which is the most dangerous stage in a human life.Drug abuse also, is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.Addiction is when you can’t stop. Not when it puts your health in danger. Not when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. That urge to get and use drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit.

Further more, drugs have two steps, drug taking and addiction, addiction is a mental illness like malaria, like a fracture that u need help. Taking is ‘pre’ stage and can be fought and addiction is hard to fight that’s where many artistes go and evaporate musically.

The substance spikes and once it spikes, you have the ‘feel’ good effect, when on it, like alcohol it rewires the brain in that the receptors or cells in the body get to normal by having it. Dangerous drugs often used include cocaine, heroin, nicotine, alcohol and many more.

WHAT ARE ENTERTAINERS DOING TO QUIT DRUGS?

According to a veteran drug abuser in the music industry, there are ways some of them do away with drugs but the major one being going to rehabilitation centers. Other means are voluntarily withdrawing and fighting with withdrawals until they learn to live without them.

( Source : www.timesug.com )