Daudi Mugema’s wish comes true
Deceased: Daudi Mugema. Photo/Courtesy
What you need to know:
- Daudi Mugema was a respected Ugandan musician known for his cultural and socially conscious songs. He gained nationwide popularity for his traditional music style, often infused with political undertones.
Ugandan singer Daudi Mugema was found dead in a hotel room in Gulu on Tuesday June 24 2025 with the cause of death still undisclosed.
Primary reports indicate that Mugema had travelled to Gulu on Saturday to meet with General Salim Saleh before his demise.
It is said that he had travelled to meet the general for financial assistance both for his ongoing health-related and personal welfare challenges.
On Tuesday night, the remains of his body were brought to National Theatre for public viewing and according to close friends, this was one of his wishes.
“Mugema had requested that there should be a public viewing at National Theatre when he passed on,” said Ronald Mayinja on June 24.
The former Golden band member also added that Mugema had also requested that there should be a stage set up where several singers would perform because he wanted his life to be celebrated like that rather than people mourning.
To back this up, the deceased artist had made the same statement during one of his interviews.
Among the singers who ensured that Mugema’s wish came true include Sophie and Sam Gombya, Messach Semakula, Hajji Haruna Mubiru and Ronald Mayinja but other creatives also came through to pay their last respect.
Mugema’s body was at National Theatre the whole of Tuesday night before it was transported to his ancestral home in Kyotera Rakai on Wednesday morning.
Mugema’s health condition
Daudi Mugema had recently made News for his recovery from a severe health condition that caused swelling in his limbs. In May 2024, he publicly appealed for support from the public to seek further treatment in Turkey.
His trip however did not yield any result even after extensive tests at three hospitals in Istanbul.
Upon his return to Uganda, Mugema’s condition improved significantly, and by March 2025, he announced he could walk unaided, crediting his recovery to the financial, emotional, and psychological support of well-wishers, including Gen. Salim Saleh, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and musicians like Mesach Semakula, Eddy Kenzo, and David Lutalo among others.
Mugema had previously benefited from Saleh’s support, revealing in 2025 that the general provided him with significant financial aid after a two-and-a-half-month wait.
Who Was Daudi Mugema?
Born in 1986, Daudi Mugema was famed for songs like Katonda Wabanaku, Mpayo Chance and Komanda among others.
Before singing, he used to manage a pool table at Jazz bridge Entebbe where Charles Sekyewa, a band artist found him.
According to radio and Tv presenter Mark Mukunja, it was Sekyewa who discovered Mugema’s musical abilities.
“We found Mugema working at a pool table in Entebbe at Jazz Bridge. Sekyewa was booked for a performance there. Because they both come from Kyotera, Sekyewa recognized him and invited him to Kampala because he knew his singing abilities,” Mukunja narrated.
When Mugema reached Kampala, he started performing with Sam Mugaga at different Jam sessions to perfect his vocals and after some time, decided to start singing as a solo artist.
Daudi Mugema was a respected Ugandan musician known for his cultural and socially conscious songs. He gained nationwide popularity for his traditional music style, often infused with political undertones.
