Ugandan musician Patrick Mulwana, popularly known as Alien Skin, has claimed that he was appointed a Senior Presidential Adviser on Ghetto Affairs several months ago. He made this revelation during a podcast appearance, where he discussed his relationship with the government and his alleged role as an adviser on matters affecting people living in Uganda's urban ghettos. Alien Skin stated that despite the alleged appointment, he has deliberately avoided publicly using the title or exercising any authority associated with the position.
According to Alien Skin, he has also never received a salary connected to the position, adding that he has never picked his salary. The remarks have generated renewed attention around the musician's alleged links to the government and the role of entertainers in political and social affairs. However, the claim of Alien Skin's appointment could not immediately be independently verified through publicly available official records.
Earlier reporting on the presidential adviser role for ghetto affairs has identified musician Mark Bugembe, popularly known as Bucha Man, as having served in that capacity. Daily Monitor previously described Bucha Man as a self-proclaimed presidential adviser on ghetto affairs, while other Ugandan media reports have referred to him as a presidential adviser on matters concerning the ghetto.
Alien Skin, whose real name is Patrick Mulwana, has had several public interactions with government officials and prominent political figures in recent years. In August 2024, he was among musicians who met President Yoweri Museveni at State House in Entebbe. The meeting also involved musicians Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone, although the details of the discussions were not officially disclosed at the time.
The government has increasingly engaged prominent musicians on issues involving the creative industry and young people. In August 2024, President Museveni appointed musician Eddy Kenzo as Presidential Adviser on Creatives, a position focused on arts and culture. Alien Skin's latest comments therefore place him within a broader pattern of Ugandan musicians taking on, or being associated with, roles involving government outreach and engagement with young people.
Alien Skin's assertion that he was appointed months ago but has never publicly used the title or collected a salary raises questions about when the alleged appointment was made, the nature of his responsibilities, and whether there is a formal government instrument confirming the position. Until such documentation is made public or an official government source confirms the appointment, Alien Skin's statement remains a claim attributed to the musician.
The singer has asked the public to investigate the matter for themselves, insisting that his alleged appointment took place despite his decision not to publicly exercise the title or authority attached to it. As the claim could not be verified, it remains unclear what impact this will have on Alien Skin's career and the musician's role in Ugandan social and political affairs.
Key points
- Alien Skin claims he was appointed a Senior Presidential Adviser on Ghetto Affairs months ago but has not used the title or received a salary.
- The government has increasingly engaged prominent musicians on issues involving the creative industry and young people.
- Alien Skin's claim could not be independently verified through publicly available official records.
