President Museveni raps on stage

Standby all of you music promoters; President Yoweri Museveni is on market. News of the country’s top man wanting to sing have been swirling around for over five years.

During the 2006 Presidential Elections, President Museveni challenged rival John Ssebaana Kizito to a music contest taunting the former Democratic Party flag bearer that he couldn’t manage a stanza even if that was what it took to enter the State House.
That argument ended there but Museveni’s vision into the music industry soared ahead and last Thursday, his first single titled You Want another Rap hit the airwaves.
This song was recorded during the I Am a Uganda album launch at State House Entebbe where the President, as chief guest, gave his speech in folklore rap form. The artistes picked his rap and went to the studio and gave it a beat with back up voices. Produced and mixed at Fenon Studios under the watchful eyes of longstanding producer Steve Jean and folk artiste Richard Kaweesa, the song traverses the folklore zone that we all visited as children through our parents as narrators.

And this song was the highlight of President Museveni’s pre-nomination party which was held at Lugogo Cricket Oval on Saturday. A host of entertainers were at hand to perform but Museveni was on top of them.

Small “presidents” like Bobi Wine, comedian Mendo Ssegujja and Paddy Bitama, who has actually declared himself candidate for the highest seat in the country,were the curtain raisers for the big President.
When he stepped on the stage the crowd went wild over the way he was swaying on the platform. He knew he was going to do a hip-hop song and so he employed the dance moves.

To prove to the crowd that he has a strong voice, the President sampled his song as the crowd sheered “ye sevo.”
“He is charming, it’s a nice song,” an excited reveller identified as Andrew Mukasa said.

The 66-year-old Museveni mingled with the crowd which was largely dominated by the youths as well as shacking hands with the artistes.
He concluded his performance by warning the youth against HIV/Aids and left the place at 7p.m.