By Raphael Okello

In 2000, a group of youthful Christians in Makerere University’s St Francis Chapel came together with an aim of ministering the word of God through Gospel music.

This group was a reincarnation of the former Come Alive Ministries, which fizzled out in the late 1990s. Under Worship Harvest Ministries, led by Moses Mukisa, regrouped.

The group of 30 young artistes has produced two unique live worship albums, Come By Here (2002) and At Your Throne (2004). But unlike Come By Here, which sold only 200 copies, At Your Throne, their latest album, has sold over 150 copies since its launch in December last year.

“Come By Here, didn’t sell. We used rudimentary recordiong methods. Although both are praise and worship albums, At Your Throne, is far better. The songs are well orchestrated and the packaging is exotic,” says Moses Mukisa.

The 11-truck album, recorded in AYF Studios Munyonyo, extols God’s benevolence and supremacy. Background soprano, alto and tenor vocals sang with verve, affection, religious zeal and conviction synchronise with the attention-detaining instrumentation. The drums, keyboards, piano and guitar generate hip hop and R&B slow and up-tempo trucks.

Each song furnishes the album with a unique sound. Angela Nakandha, Denis Makhande and Evangeline Atukunda are the outstanding lead vocalists.

Makhande, the lead singer in the only Swahili titled song Sita Wacha Jiwe (I am not going to let any rock out praise me), reminds you of Kirk Franklin’s style and vivacity. He doesn’t simply mention the words for the choir to echo, but to sing.

Like most songs on the album, the title truck, At your throne, is a slow sweet ballad with deep spiritual messages. Copies of the album are available at La Fontaine, Uganda House or St Francis Chapel at sh20,000.