TRU iKON a fast rising fashion brand based in Amsterdam has fast gained momentum and is rising the fashion ranks and gaining popularity each passing day. The fashion house that is barely a year old has received her first ever nod with Africa’s biggest fashion awards the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards in the category of the Emerging Fashion Brand where it will compete with 5 other fashion houses.
The luxury ready to wear line that combines original expertise in fusing casual formal wear with a daring street style touch and craftsmanship, is surely one of Africa’s young fashion brands to watch with its global approach to fashion trends. Through it’s artfully crafted collections, TRU iKON pieces are designed for easy wear and pair.
The brand was created and is co- owned by a Ugandan Fashion designer Shakeem. Shakeem is also a men’s wear designer with DIESEL, a luxury fashion brand based in Brengaze Italy.
Shakeem’s design aesthetic bridges streetwear and luxury clothing which can be described as fearless and inspiring. His designs bring streetwear to the highest levels of the luxury market from an African fashion mind.
Dubai ruler, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum amongst other prominent Arab leaders topped the list of world leaders at the FIFA Qatar World Cup Opening Ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, expressed the excitement of the Middle-East region hosting the World Cup, he tweeted “Today I witnessed the opening ceremony of the World Cup … Historical moments our region is experiencing, hosting the most important event in the world. Doha will be the capital of world sports for a month from today. May God protect it and bring [Qatar’s] people and leadership all the success.”
With designated fan zones already open up across the emirate, Dubai, which also has strong ties to the host nation, is prepared to host soccer fans from all over the world for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Residents and visitors can watch the action live from Doha at a variety of locations that have been earmarked especially for the event.
Football-themed areas, lounges, and parks have been created on multiple properties. The park has 30 enormous screens installed, and games will be aired until December 18 with live pre- and post-match analysis from football analysts. First-come, first-served policy governs the availability of tables at DIFC Football Park. 10,000 spectators can be accommodated per day at the BudX FIFA fan park at beautiful Dubai Harbour during the tournament. For match days, a BudX FIFA Fan Park ticket bundle costs Dh79 per person; premium access is Dh131. A high table will cost Dh1,680 for four people, and a sofa would cost Dh3,360 for eight. The cost of the 15-person premium suite silver is Dh13,388.
Built to suit the season and satisfy the increased demand for accommodation, the 533-room capacity football-themed hotel, NH Dubai the Palm is now open with a sports bar dedicated to fans wishing to get access to the tournament. Situated on the western side of the Palm Jumeirah, is a completely new addition to the Dubai hospitality landscape.
Prior to the games, Dubai Customs finished making Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai Logistics City ready for travelers and flying freight. These are in order to guarantee that the greatest facilities and services are offered for the smooth, rapid, and effective movement of spectators, guests, and teams’ sporting equipment during the games.
Juma Al-Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development Division at Dubai Customs, on inspection at the Airport, he said “Dubai Customs plays a vital role in supporting regional and global events hosted by the region. The World Cup 2022 is an opportunity for nations and peoples to interact and communicate. For this, we vehemently stand behind this renowned tournament to ensure its success through hosting the visitors and fans and facilitating their movement from Dubai to Qatar.”
The Dubai police has urged football fans to respect local laws as they chant for their favourite teams for the FIFA World Cup 2022. In a tweet, it stated “Dubai welcomes you during the World Cup… enjoy our city of tolerance and openness and take part in our thriving international community. We invite you to express your excitement with respect to local laws and community.”
As the MTN Uganda celebrates yet another milestone of reaching the 17 million customer mark, the telecom has identified and rewarded its 17 millionth customer.
Miss Anolyne Kebirungi, a resident of Kisenyi Parish in Kamwokya, a suburb in Kampala is the lucky 17 millionth MTN customer and she was visited by a team of MTN staff, led by the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Sylvia Mulinge and the MTN Uganda Sales and Distribution General Manager, Joseph Bogera, among others, who went to hand over a total of 17 gift hampers and a cash reward to Kebirungi.
The 17 hampers symbolize MTN’s 17 million customers. Kebirungi shared the gift hampers with 16 of her friends in the community, in line with the MTN #GoodTogether notion.
While handing over the gift hampers to Kebirungi, Mulinge said that: “We at MTN are very happy that you and all our customers who have enabled us to hit this milestone, made the right choice by joining MTN, the biggest and the best network that provides unmatched services to its customers. We are happy to celebrate with you this unique milestone of our company. Please receive these humble gifts from MTN and spread the festive cheer in your community by sharing these hampers with 16 friends of your choice.”
Mulinge noted that the act of rewarding its 17 millionth customer is MTN Uganda’s way of celebrating the big milestone, while at the same time thanking its customers for embracing the ever-growing network.
The pleasantly surprised Kebirungi narrated how she lost her sim card at a time she did not have money and a friend offered to buy for her a new MTN sim card, which has turned out to be a lucky sim card that saw MTN clock in 17 million customers.
“I am so happy that my friend offered to bail me out. I thank God for the luck and favour and I also thank MTN for this generous and surprising offer. I will share these gifts with my friends and neighbours so that we can all have a good Christmas. I encourage Ugandans to continue supporting MTN because it cares for its customers,” Kebirungi said.
Now with 17 million customers, 16 months after it reached the 15 million customer mark in August 2021, MTN has further reinforced its number one position as Uganda’s Telecom giant. MTN’s customer base evolution is partly attributed to the growing population of Uganda as well as MTN’s commitment to better service delivery.
According to Mulinge, reaching the 17 million customer milestone is a great achievement for MTN Uganda and it goes to show that more people are embracing the benefits of a modern connected life that MTN delivers.
Mulinge further noted that the achievement of 17 million customers is simply the beginning of yet another race to the next milestone as MTN is intent on giving everyone in Uganda the benefits of a modern connected life. She lauded the management and staff of MTN Uganda, MTN subscribers, the Government, and regulator as well as technology partners for their support towards the Telecom’s achievement of the 17 million Customer milestone.
Oripler Foods is a fresh foods company based in Kikonda, a small town nestled in the lush green mountains of Africa. The company specializes in growing a variety of delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables, including green bananas, cavendish bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, and mangoes.
At Oripler Foods, sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. They use solar-powered irrigation systems to water their crops, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing their carbon footprint. The company is also committed to empowering women in the local community, with the majority of their employees being women.
The produce grown at Oripler Foods is of the highest quality, bursting with flavor and nutrients. The green bananas are a particular specialty, with their creamy, starchy flesh and subtle sweetness. They are the perfect addition to any meal, whether it’s mashed and fried as a side dish or sliced and added to a refreshing smoothie.
The cavendish bananas are another popular choice, with their sweet and fruity flavor making them a favorite among both adults and children. The sweet potatoes are another standout, with their orange flesh packed full of vitamins and minerals. And the avocados and mangoes grown at Oripler Foods are some of the most flavorful and succulent you’ll find anywhere.
Oripler Foods is proud to be exporting these delicious and sustainably grown foods to Europe, where consumers can enjoy them in their own homes. They are confident that once European consumers taste the fresh and flavorful produce from Oripler Foods, they will be eager to have more. So why wait? Try Oripler Foods today and discover the delicious taste of sustainability!
As a European fresh food trader, you know the importance of sourcing high-quality produce for your customers. That’s why we want to introduce you to Oripler Foods, a fresh food export company based in the beautiful town of Kikonda, Luwero, Uganda.
At Oripler Foods, sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do. They use solar-powered irrigation systems to water their crops, minimizing their carbon footprint and ensuring that their produce is grown in an environmentally friendly manner. They are also committed to empowering women in the local community, with the majority of their employees being women.
So what kind of produce can you expect from Oripler Foods? They specialize in growing a variety of delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables, including green bananas, sweet potatoes, and cavendish bananas. These products are of the highest quality, bursting with flavor and nutrients.
The green bananas grown at Oripler Foods are particularly noteworthy, with their creamy, starchy flesh and subtle sweetness. They are the perfect addition to any meal, whether it’s mashed and fried as a side dish or sliced and added to a refreshing smoothie. The sweet potatoes, with their orange flesh packed full of vitamins and minerals, are another standout, and the cavendish bananas, with their sweet and fruity flavor, are sure to be a hit with both adults and children.
We are confident that once you try the fresh and flavorful produce from Oripler Foods, you will be eager to purchase more for your customers. So why wait? Contact Oripler Foods today and discover the delicious taste of sustainability!
There is an ongoing heated battle between Next Media presenters, Sheilah Gashumba and Isaac Kawalya alias One Lord Kaiyz.
The verbal war started after Kaiyz criticized Sheilah Gashumba’s ‘dress code’ at the Chop life end of year party (One Man One Bottle show) held at Vault – Bandali rise in Bugolobi a few days ago.
Appearing on NBS After5 show, Kaiyz revealed that he was unimpressed by workmate, Sheilah Gashumba’s dress code.
The ‘Uncut’ show presenter believes Sheilah’s skimpy attires may come as to haunt her in the future when she has kids.
“I was disgusted by Sheilah Gashumba’s outfit at One Man One Bottle show. You are showing that beautiful body today but will your kids be proud of such photos in 20years to come? You have to be human in whatever you do since the internet keeps whatever is shared for years,” Kaiyz said.
However, Kaiyz’s submission did not sit well with the young socialite, and she has since retaliated.
Taking it to her Twitter on Boxing Day, Gashumba blasted Kaiyz branding him ‘outdated’.
Gashumba asked Kaiyz to never compare himself to her, especially the two having grown-up watching TV shows that differ in-terms of variety and taste.
“Dear Kaiyz, you grew up watching That’s Life Mwattu and Kigenya Agenya on a black and white tv. I grew up watching live performances of Rihanna and Beyoncé and Disney channel, E!. I’m here to remind you that WE ARE NOT AND WE WILL NEVER BE ON THE SAME LEVEL,” a tweet by Sheilah Gashumba reads.
She also requested colleague to stop demeaning people in the entertainment industry with the fact that he is not any way superior than them.
“Anyways jokes, Kayz kindly stop belittling, mocking, disrespecting, spreading negativity around people in the entertainment industry. You are not better than anyone and you are too far from perfect. Use the platform you have to uplift others,” Sheilah adds.
Ugandan born, UK-based singing brothers; Denis Mugagga and Daniel Sewagudde famously known as The Ganda Boys (Da Twinz) continue to set the pace.
Just after appearing on the 2023 Grammy nominations consideration list, The Ganda Boyz are at it again. They have done a rendition of the “Ekitiibwa kya Buganda” anthem with the Bogotà Philharmonic Orchestra.
Craig Pruess, the singing duo’s founder worked on the orchestral arrangement, while Daniel Cortés, a Grammy-nominated sound engineer, is currently finishing up the final mix.
“The Bogotà Philharmonic Orchestra has been recorded with a new orchestral arrangement by Ganda Boys founder member, Craig Pruess. The final recording is being mixed by GRAMMY winner Latino producer and engineer, Daniel Cortés,” The Ganda Boys stated.
The Ganda Boys are making a big step by organizing choirs from six continents of the world to collaborate on the anthem.
The musicians and brothers, based in the UK but playing traditional Ugandan instruments, they have been participating in a cross-cultural project exploring winter themes.
Appearing on BBC, they explained how the themes fit together.
“We bring a bit of sunshine right smack in the middle of winter!”
The Ganda Boys have been bringing their warm traditional sounds from Uganda to a musical exploration of mid-winter.
In Uganda, The Ganda Boys are popularly known for hits like; Nafunye, Ndeku, Midomo, Kitundu, Ddembessa and Ssente.
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) returns for its 7th edition this January. The tournament will be held from January 13 to February 4, 2023 in Algeria. The games will open with the host country, Algeria taking on the Libyan side on January 13, 2023 at the Baraki stadium.
Uganda was drawn in Group B together with DR Congo, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire. Uganda cranes has failed to go past the group stages during the five times they have played in the tournament that started in 2007 but will this time try to aim higher than that during next years’ edition in Algeria.
Group C features current African hero during recent World Cup Morocco against Sudan, Madagascar and Ghana. Uganda’s opening match will be against Congo on 14th Jan, 2023 at 7:00PM.
StarTimes has announced that they will broadcast all the games live in 4 different native languages i.e. English, Luganda, Runyooro and Luo.
“As StarTimes, CHAN is such a special competitions for us due to the fact that only StarTimes Uganda Premier league stars are eligible to participate. This platform will open doors for our players to greener pastures.“ Said Lule Isma, the Brand and Marketing Director StarTimes.
World Football and Sanyuka Prime will be the lead channels broadcasting in English and Luganda respectively; customers on both satellite and Antenna decoders will access all the action irrespective of the bouquet.
The Ebonies have unveiled a new and exciting TV series dubbed Urban Life. The youth centered show will tackle issues pertaining to human trafficking, drug use and transactional sex.
The drama produced Arthur Mukiibi is airing on Pearl Magic Prime. Urban Life will bring to viewer’s screens sensations like Sam Bagenda commonly known as “Dr. Bbosa”, Roberta Ssekabira, Victoria Nakabuye, Jonathan Ssubi, Fauziah Nakiboneka, among others.
Speaking during the launch and TV series premiere event held last week, the Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission, Eng. Irene Sewankambo said that, “As UCC, one of our Key mandates is to ensure the industry is sustainable and is thriving through the production of local content delivered and produced by Ugandans for Ugandan at a world-class level.”
She acknowledged the impact shows like Urban Life will have on communities in Uganda and East Africa revealing that, “Shows like this that speak into the everyday lives of youth will shape how key conversations in families can be discussed to ensure responsible living among young people.”
Eng. Sewankambo applauded MultiChoice Uganda for the continued support towards local content development and talent exposure through providing platforms like Pearl Magic Prime. “Thank you for your continued benevolence and support towards filmmakers in Uganda. It goes without saying that in the last few years alone, you have commissioned several Ugandan shows and licensed many others across different genres and provided them with a platforms on Pearl Magic, Maisha Magic Movies and today Urban Life on Pearl Magic Prime.”
In his remarks, Rinaldi Jamugisa, PR and Communications Manager, MultiChoice Uganda expressed gratitude to the Ebonies for a thrilling and exciting drama which has been brought to the screens for Ugandans to enjoy.
“We are excited to launch an educational, entertaining and engaging show by some of our favorite all-timers in the film industry. The Ebonies are known by many regardless of the age group and as such we believe this drama will resonate with not just the youth but all age groups.” Jamugisa noted, explaining that, “Urban life is a series intended for the youth who dominate Uganda’s population and neighboring East African countries revolving around the themes, Human trafficking, domestic violence, slay queens, sexual harassment, drug & alcohol abuse, cross generational sex among others.”
Urban Life premiered on Pearl Magic Prime on 19 December. It airs every Monday to Wednesday at 7.30 pm.
Johnnie Walker brand ambassadors, Miss Deedan and Timothy Code
By Our Reporter
Whisky brand, Johnnie Walker has announced an exciting end of year celebration to wind down 2022 in style. The highly anticipated event is slated to take place at the Kampala Serena Hotel on New Year’s Eve (December 31st 2022).
The globally known celebratory brand will merge efforts with reputable event architects- Malembe Lifestyle, and Fenon Events to organise the ultimate New Year countdown party.
The party that starts at 7pm, will see Kampala’s most elite merrymakers usher in 2023 with vibes from some of the city’s most celebrated DJs, complete with a first of it’s kind, custom Johnnie Walker experience.
“This year’s Johnnie Walker Countdown is one that we are looking forward to as a brand. 2022 has been a great year that saw us through a lot of growth and success. We decided to become more personal and intimate with our consumers, and we thought it best to usher in the new year together with another exciting experience,” said Christine Kyokunda, the Johnnie Walker Brand Manager.
“I wish to invite all our consumers to join us as we toast to the milestones and achievements of 2022, and also usher in 2023 in the Johnnie Walker Style. There will be lots of entertainment and of course the best celebratory brand in the world- Johnnie Walker,” she added.
The Johnnie Walker Countdown New Years Party is an annual fiesta where the brand ushers in the New Year alongside a host of it’s esteemed clients.
Entrance to the event is 70k for early bird tickets, and 100k at the gate, while a VVIP table of six goes for 1.5m.
As the curtains fall on 2022, MTN Uganda has announced its sponsorship of a series of events to be held across the country as we cross over to the new year. The announcement was made on Thursday in a press conference held at the MTN headquarters in Kampala.
Speaking at the press conference, Mildred Nsinda, MTN Uganda’s Trade Manager said that MTN’s support towards the end-of-year festivities is its way of giving back to Ugandans for their love and support towards MTN which recently hit the 17 million customer milestone, reinforcing its position as the leading Telecom in the country.
“MTN has over the years sponsored various festivities. This year, particularly after two difficult years of the Covid19 pandemic, MTN is happy to extend its support to a number of events to enable its customers end this year and begin the next year in their preferred way. We thank the organizers of these events for choosing MTN as the right partner. We are happy for what we have achieved this year and we hope to even do more together next year,” said Nsinda.
Following a 2-year covid-19 lockdown, MTN has gone all out and is supporting a number of events to enable more people to celebrate the end of this year as they usher in another.
The events that MTN is sponsoring include the end-of-year Passover festival by Pastor Joseph Serwadda set to happen on the 31st of December at Kyambogo University Grounds and the Kingdom media end-of-year National Prayer Day led by Bishop David Livingstone Kiganda happening on the same day in Old Kampala.
Pr. Serwadda, the founder of the Passover Festival thanked MTN for its continued support towards the event. “We started the Passover festival in 2002 and this will be our 21st congregation. So far, MTN has sponsored us for 13 consecutive years. We say thank you to MTN for all these years of support even when things have been hard. For MTN to sponsor the Passover Festival and Pastor Kiganda’s National Prayer Day shows that there is favor and power in what we do, and we thank God for that,” Pr. Serwadda said.
Bishop Kiganda hailed MTN for always supporting the National prayer Day among other religious events. “This support from MTN goes to show that the company cares how Ugandans end the year and welcome another. There is no better way of ending the year and starting the year with prayer in the presence of God,” Bishop Kiganda said, expressing his gratitude to the Ugandans who have continuously turned up for the National Prayer Day as well as the Passover event.
Apart from the religious events, MTN has also injected cash support into another set of end-of-year and New year festivities across the country such as the Radio 4 UG Mix Party happening at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, the Central Broadcasting Services’ Enkuuka celebrations in Kampala at (Bulange-Mengo), the Resort Beach End of year party in Entebbe, the Tooro Kingdom end of year party in Fort Portal City. All these will be held on the 31st of December 2022 as the year closes.
To kick-start the new year, MTN has also sponsored the Northern Uganda Music Awards which shall take place in Gulu City at Pece Stadium, and another music concert is scheduled to take place in Kampala at the Akamwesi mall, courtesy of MTN Uganda. According to the organisers of the events, there will be lots of exciting activities and live performances across all the events.
Comedian Sundiata aka the Mayor of Kirabu can now smile after closing the year in style. The comedian who is based in Arua but also performs in Kampala has had very many good shows this year but his last show seemed to be the biggest show as the year comes to an end.
The show that was dubbed “Mayor of Kirabu and Friends” took place on 26th December at Capital One Parking in Arua. The show featured other top comedians like Patrick Salvado, Okello Okello, Mc Kash Owakabi, Dr Hillary and Emma Napoleone.
The Mayor of Kirabu and Friends is organized every year on Boxing Day but this time round, the 2022 edition was on another level. The show attracted a full house with tickets being sold out by 9pm. As the host of the show, Sundiata opened the show with some rib cracking jokes. He kept on coming back on stage to crack a few before calling on the next act.
Fast rising comedian Jacques was the first on stage before he left it for Mc Kash Owakabi who took to the stage at exactly 10pm. Kash with significant jokes sent the whole house into a laughing mood as Emma Napoeleone came on to maintain the vibe. In their came Dr Hilary Okello who opened his act with his signature song Last Last by Burna Boy, he then switched to cracking ribs, something he has mastered over the years.
Comedy Black Friday host Okello Okello who needs no introduction in Arua came on stage amid cheers from the crowd since he became a darling to West Nile comedy fans. He understood the assignment; his jokes were fresh, and each joke he delivered kept the crowd teary and laughing their lungs out.
The best was kept for the last as the headlining act Patrick Salvado who actually hails from Arua came to the stage. The crowd went wild seeing their own West Nile comedian standing in front of them. Salvado never disappoints, he did what he had to do and with all his jokes, he left Arua contented.
The Big Brother show is returning bigger and better this January. Dubbed Big Brother Titans, it will most certainly be one of the Biggest seasons of the Big Brother franchise yet.
Commencing on Sunday, 15 January 2023, this special edition of the Big Brother franchise will feature selected housemates from Nigeria and South Africa in one House, playing the game for the ultimate prize.
Announcing the commencement of the show and prize money, Executive Head of Programming: M-Net Channels, Nomsa Philiso, disclosed that Big Brother Titans edition will run up until April and the winner will cart home a cash prize of $100,000.
“This special edition is a fusion of two TV phenomena, BB Naija and BB Mzansi. We are bringing housemates from two GIANT nations under one roof, to entertain audiences across the continent with intense drama like never before. It promises an abundance of Nigerian and South Africa swag, banter, romance, and everything in between,” Philiso said. “This is a meeting of the Titans, and the winner will take home a large sum of cash and other prizes. As usual, the winner will be determined by the viewers as they will have to vote to keep their favourite housemates on the show.”
BBNaija’s Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and popular Big Brother Mzansi host Lawrence Maleka will co-host this debut season.
Valentino R. Kabenge, Uganda’s top Latin and Ballroom dancer raised Uganda’s flag high once again during his debut appearance on Focus on Africa, a show on BBC that showcases the biggest stories from across Africa. During the programme, which is now available online here, he spoke to Veronique Edwards about his love for dance, and his involvement in a festival that brings together people who are differently abled to showcase their talent.
This appearance comes after his big break in November 2022 as a judge at the London Dance Nights events with Strictly Come Dancing’s former pro Dancer Oti Mabuse. To date, Valentino is ranked Uganda’s top Latin and Ballroom dancer, who has consistently graced big stages both nationally and internationally. He is also known for including people with varied abilities in his live shows and in this interview, we get to hear why working with Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped is close to his heart, and why the inclusion of talented individuals despite their disability is important.
“We all have stories, we are human beings, and dance is a language we can use to express ourselves,” he said. “There are very many people who are physically handicapped or visually impaired but they love to dance and music moves them. If you feel like you can move your body and have the talent to, then why not? Dance is therapy to most people.”
Working with Unseen Dreams Inclusive Dance Arts Festival inspired him to launch and support Rogers Bisereko, Uganda’s first mainstream dance act in a wheel chair. Bisereko has since been featured in different dance shows such as the 2022 edition of Bride & Groom Expo where Dance with Valentino opened all 3 of the daily event shows.
Sensational Ugandan singer, Moses Ssali alias Bebe Cool has made big pledges to artists who successfully made it to his ‘2022 Bebe Cool List’.
Bebe made the pledge on Sunday, January 1, 2023 as he released his long-awaited list of top artists whose works stood out musically in year 2022.
According to Bebe Cool, an artist on the ‘Bebe Cool list’ is entitled to free studio time to a tune of three songs at his Gagamel Records located in Ntinda – Kampala.
However, an artist will be required to hire his/her favorite producer and book the studio time two weeks prior.
The multiple hitmaker also pledged to provide free music videography equipment for 3 videos to an artist.
“This offer is subject to an artist having his/her own producer and booking studio time two weeks prior to the programme. The video camera is subject to 150 US dollars as facilitation for the handler and security,” Bebe Cool said.
Many music industry stakeholders including fellow musicians have since hailed the Gagamel International music label boss for such an enormous move of uplifting his fellow artists.
Check out the 2022 Bebe Cool List below:
Grenade
Grenade has managed to return to Bebe Cool list with three songs that have performed extremely well on all airwaves and online. These songs are: Picha, Babadana, Embuuzi Ne’nte.
Mudra
With good management, and for the second year in a row, Bebe Cool said Mudra maintains his status and delivered once again to his expectations with songs such as Ayi ft Sheebah and Balo Balo.
According to Bebe Cool, Mudra has been the most trending artist for 2022. Nearly every DJ has played two or three of his songs either on the radio or club.
Azawi
For the second consecutive year, Azawi has also maintained her position as the best female artist with three massive hit songs throughout the year. The songs include; Bamutute, Fwa Fwa Fwa and Majje.
Ykee Benda
The singer managed to feature on the Bebe Cool List with songs such as Nkufeelinga Ft Chembaz, and Teacher Ft Fik Fameica.
John Blaq
He made it to the list with songs such as Follow and Chai Mata.
Eddy Kenzo
Grammy Academy nominee Eddy Kenzo appeared on this list with one of the biggest songs including Nsimbudde and Bwe Pwa. Kenzo continues to surprise people with his music career. Looking at 2022 itself, he is the only Ugandan in the Grammy awards.
Jose Chameleone
Chameleone also featured on the list with his song “Forever”.
Bebe Cool said it is hard for him to include names like Jose Chameleone, Bob Wine, Afrigo Band & Maddox Sematimba on a list of music competitions because he believes these names are past the aspect of being asked for a hit song.
“In this aspect, their legacies and old music seem to serve their fans enough with no demand for new or better songs though it doesn’t take away the fact that they are still in the race and for 2022, Jose Chameleone proves to still have the longest trending song, Forever,” he said.
Spice Diana
Despite her personal challenges, according to Bebe Cool, Spice Diana last year focused on getting a single, unlike previous years when she appeared because of collaborations and her showbiz.
Bebe Cool said her single Regular is a trending song and has been appreciated by many people.
Carol Nantongo (Oliwa)
With Oliwa crossing over from band music to the mainstream, Bebe Cool said the song has done well in the industry.
Rickyman Manrick
Slowly as he fights back his way to the scene, Bebe Cool said Rickyman delivered two good collaborations last year. These songs are Enjoyment ft Kenzo, Hangover ft Avion King.
Kateleya and Kandle
According to Bebe Cool, the duo has been received quite well on stage with their songs such as Do Me and Njagala Money.
Sheebah Karungi
The singer who was almost topping the list every previous year didn’t do well last year according to Bebe Cool although she made it to the list with her song Bailamos. Bebe Cool expects her to bounce back strong this year.
Others who made to the list with one hit song include; Winnie Nwangi with Malaika, David Lutalo with Kabisi Kandagala, Gravity Omutujju with Tusimbudde, Pallaso with Nsaba, Ronald Alimpa with Lusuku lwa Cement and Martha Mukisa with Busy.
Oscar Kampala is arguably Uganda’s biggest fashion icon for the year 2022.
From dictating the graduation attires at top varsities in the land, styling international acts to winning continental awards, Oscar Kampala enjoyed enormous success.
Another highlight was the 300 men in Oscar Kampala. For over a week in August, social media was awash with the ‘300 Men In Oscar Kampala’ campaign.
The campaign took Kampala by storm, leaving many Kampala men wondering what it would take to be part of the select 300 men in Kampala.
Oscar Nyesiga announced, during the launch, that the 300 Men In Oscar Kampala intended to inspire men to strive to be better.
In the same year, several event managers have sought out Oscar to design world-class acts that blessed Ugandan stages. Some of these included Fireboy DML, Kizz Daniel, Bennie Man, Oxlade, CK, Skales, Jidenna, Dj Neptune and many more.
The endless list of Oscar Kampala’s landmarks was capped by a pair of continental awards in October.
The Makerere lad was recognized as the Best Celebrity Stylist of the Year Africa and Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year Africa at the Zikomo Awards in Zambia.
The sky is the limit for Oscar Kampala! We wait to see what he has in store for the new year.
The year 2022 ended on a flavorful and tasteful note for revellers and guests that made it to the Kampala Serena Hotel for the Johnnie Walker New Year’s Eve Countdown Party on Saturday night.
To say that the year closed with a bang would be an understatement; it was the perfect way to celebrate finishing 2022, and ushering in 2023. The event saw revellers not only celebrate the end of 2022 with music by incredible DJs, but also happily immerse in the flavourful world of the top global celebratory brand.
Victoria Hall was lit in every sense as Fenon Productions creatively built a round stage in the middle of the hall, with LED screens hanging above it. It also had two well stocked bars that ensured revellers always had their glasses full.
“Today’s NYE party showcases the spirit that Johnnie Walker embodies; the spirit of celebration which for many is what they came here to do. To celebrate the steps they took, and the progress that we all made in 2022,” said Christine Kyokunda, Johnnie Walker Uganda Brand Manager.
“I cannot tell you how excited I am for what lies ahead for us as a brand, but most importantly what we have in store for our consumers as we continue on this Whisky Desire journey together. To say the least, we are looking forward to a flavorful and tasteful 2023,” she added.
Hosted by Timothy Code, the event kicked off at 8pm, and the party mood was set by DJ mixes from Kampala turntable favorites that included Dj Ssese, Dj VX Faisal, Dj Tenyis, Dj Tune and DJ Vanss.
However, the highlight of the night was the countdown towards midnight; with Fem Dj on the turntables, the crowd counted down into the new year in excitement. And the disc spinner did not disappoint, as he took the exhilarated crowd on a journey of musical bliss.
The crowd raised their glasses and toasted to a new year, as they sang along to Avicii’s smash hit “The Nights” before he took them straight into some South African Amapiano, and of course, some Afro Beats.
But Fem being Fem, the night couldn’t end without a trip down memory lane; he threw in some Afrigo mixes, before switching to the trending local hits, and later on a calming reggae session.
The festivities went on until the wee hours of Sunday morning with several DJs taking turns on the turntables.
City Prophet,Prophet William Ssozi has come out again to claim credit for the most current World Cup win.
In a live video dated 30th December 2022 The Prophet is seen and heard confirming that Leo Messi sought his prayers at the beginning of the tournament through some of his close friends.
According to the video,two close friends approached the Prophet through his email.They then scheduled a zoom meeting where the prayers began between the Prophet and the friends close to the Argentinian footballer. “They messaged me saying that they had heard about me and my ministry and were looking for a way how I (Prophet William) can pray for their friend (Lionel Messi)”,Says the Prophet.
The Man of God then told the two friends to convey the message back to the footballer,that indeed,his victory is secured and cannot be threatened by anyone.The Prophet however goes on to say that he told the supposed friends of the footballer that they should keep it to themselves,until after it has come to pass.
This is not the first time Prophet William Ssozi has come out to make claims such as this.
He is known for claiming he has had encounters with Jesus,claiming that God showed him the floods that happened in Mbale,Uganda and the most recent,he claims to have seen the death of the Queen of England in a vision before it happened.
Uganda’s top celebrities have through a football game raised support towards children with disability at the Katalemwa Cheshire Rehabilitation Centre.
The game held Monday at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo saw two teams – Team Alex Muhangi and Team Spice Diana – play a friendly game.
A number of celebrities including Eddy Kenzo, Spice Diana, John Blaq, Alex Muhangi, Rikman Manrick, DJ Roja, Pinky, Myk Ouma, Kaiyz, Mr Mosh, Maulana & Reign, Hannington Bugingo, Gareth Onyango and DJ Michael played.
Others included Kalela, Disan Galiwango, Sammy Wetala, Tony Mutengu, Musya, Melo, DJ Luidee, Abdu Wasike, Speaker Godfrey Luyombya among others.
Team Alex Muhangi won with 2 goals to nil. The goals were scored by Mustafa Kizza and Ibrahim Sadam Juma both ex-KCCA FC players.
Grammy-nominated singer, Eddy Kenzo commended the campaign, saying it is crucial for public figures to make a contribution towards society.
“It’s very important to be part of this cause. It’s a very good initiative, giving back to charity. The idea of the whole industry including the media to come together, shake hands, hug and pray for one another. It’s love and harmony,” Kenzo said after the game.
“We need to keep doing this. Collecting money and giving back to community,” added the BET award-winning singer who for the last 4 years has through his Eddy Kenzo Foundation and Big Talent Soccer Academy supported less privileged kids by giving them a platform.
On her part, Spice Diana lauded everyone that participated in the game and those that supported the cause in different ways. “It means a lot to us and the children at Katalemwa Rehabilitation Centre. Personally, I’m happy because charity is my thing. I really love to be part of anything that concerns the kids because they are the future when we are no longer active.”
The Sili Regular singer also thanked Katalemwa for the work they do in rehabilitating children with disabilities.
“Often times, children who have disability are neglected. But Katalemwa has taken the responsibility of standing with them and playing the guardian role to the children. I appeal to everyone to continue supporting Katalemwa so as to sustain the lives of these children,” Spice added.
At the game, Spice Diana delivered an assortment of items including foodstuffs and other essential items that children depend on in their daily lives.
Different celebrities and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry also contributed essential items while others made cash pledges towards the campaign.
Karole Kasita, Ally Alibhai, Shakira Shakira, producer Artin, Kheem GK, Pia Pounds, Robert Mugisha (QC) also made donations.
The campaign themed ‘Play for Hope’ was spearheaded by Alex Muhangi, Bushingtone and Miles Rwamiti among others.
Benard Ouma, the Program Manager at Katalemwa Cheshire Rehabilitation Centre expressed gratitude for the support, saying it is a big boost to the already existing efforts by the organization. “I want to thank everyone who participated in this especially Team Muhangi and Team Spice Diana. Katalemwa is a rehabilitation centre and it has been there since 1970 and it has rehabilitated so many children. We rehabilitate over 15,000 children every year,” Ouma said.
“Currently we have so many children who require surgery, food and rehabilitation. When people like you come out and support us, it means a lot to us as an organization as well as the kids. Today is no ordinary day for these children,” he said.
The Voice, the world’s biggest musical competition series, has come to Africa. The inaugural edition of the Voice Africa was officially launched in October 2022. Previously, the competition has only been held in Nigeria, but for the first time ever, the musical contest has been extended to 13 other African countries. This after Airtel Africa moved to sponsor the singing competition.
Uganda will participate alongside several other countries including Niger, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Republic of Congo, Chad, Rwanda, DRC, Nigeria, and Gabon.
Participation Criteria
The first stage was a Video Audition, in which entrants registered at www.thevoice.africa.com and uploaded a one-minute video of them singing. Successful applicants were invited to attend a Live Audition.
Following the live audition, the seven strongest vocalists from Uganda will be flown to Nigeria to film the show, alongside seven other contestants from each of the other 13 countries.
The next stage is the unique and show-stopping Blind Auditions, for which The Voice is internationally renowned. Decisions from a high-profile panel of expert coaches will be based solely on voice, and not on looks.
The coaches will hear the contestants perform, but they will not get to see them – thanks to rotating chairs. If a coach is impressed by the contestant’s voice, he/she pushes a button to select the artist for his/her team. Once the teams are set, they enter the Battle Round, where coaches will dedicate themselves to developing their team of artists, giving them advice, and sharing the secrets of their success along with the help from their celebrity advisers.
At the end of various vocal challenges, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the new Knockout rounds. Here, coaches will decide who to take forward to the Live Shows.
In this final phase, 16 potential singing superstars from across Africa – including two from Uganda will compete each week against each other during a live broadcast, taking place in March 2023. The television audience will vote to save their favorite artists and one grand winner will ultimately be named ‘The Voice Africa’.
In Uganda, The Voice Africa will be aired on NTV Uganda and KFM radio every Sunday at 8pm.
Prize Money
The grand winner will be rewarded with USD $100,000 prize package and a recording contract with Universal Studios – the leading music producers in the world. Each of the selected participants from each country will also be rewarded USD$5,000 and some Airtel goodies.
