You cannot talk about the entertainers of Uganda’s Independence Day without mentioning the singers who had all of East Africa dancing. Their names were legendary in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Today, icons such as Joseph Mayanja, alias Jose Chameleone; Moses Ssali, alias Bebe Cool; Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine; Julian Kanyomozi; Kabuye Ssemboga, and Edirisah Musuuza, alias Eddy Kenzo, continue to inspire. But what about the pioneers whose names might be unfamiliar to today’s generation?
Do you remember Andrew Kyambadde, Eva Nanyonga, Prof George Kakoma, Prof Ssenoga Zzaake, Fred Masagazi, and Christopher Ssebaduka? Or Dan Mugula, Eclas Kawalya (Joanita Kawalya’s father), Fred Ssonko, Evaristo Muyinda, Hadijja Namale, Elly Wamala, Christopher Kiza, Dr Herbert Ssempeke, and Prof Benny Kalanzi?
These were the musical heroes of Uganda’s Independence, bringing glory and recognition to the country. Sadly, most are no longer with us, and those who remain have largely faded from public memory.
The Independence song
Andrew Kyambadde, born in 1940, composed the official Independence Day song titled Uganda Independence. Its chorus resonates to this day: “Olunaku olwo lwakitibwa, olunaku olwa October, 9 olunaku olwo lwamuwendo, Uganda tuliyimba. Olunaku olwo mululinde, olunaku olwo mujaganye, olunaku olwo si lwabulijjo, Uganda independent.”
Kyambadde recalls that shortly before the British government handed over power, advertisements were published in the Uganda Argus and on Radio Uganda, inviting people to compose songs to mark Uganda’s Independence.
