''Yengoma'': Museveni''s new song hits 6,000 views

Jul 25, 2015

A song attributed to President Yoweri Museveni titled ''Yengoma'' is receiving massive hits (views) on video-sharing site YouTube.


By Cecilia Okoth

With the presidential and general elections nearing and the political climate in the country heating up, a song attributed to President Yoweri Museveni titled 'Yengoma', is receiving massive hits (views) on video-sharing site YouTube.          

The song, released early this week, comes hardly five years after his maiden release of 'Mpenkoni', which dazzled many and went viral in the run up to the 2011 general elections.

'Yengoma' had hit over 6,100 views and 7,500 downloads by Thursday.  

The 2:48-minute record talks about a throne and the powerful person sitting on it, who is reflected through the carnivorous bird (Oruyongoyongo), which hails from Kabale district.          

"Young shepherds often recited the lyrics of Yengoma while grazing cattle. They referred to the Oruyongoyongo as a hero who took care of the cows without complaining till they were satisfied," said Steven Karasi, a Muhororo from Rukungiri.

"At the end of the rhyme, a silent unknown voice says 'eishi ekintu kakyankywa omugongo' meaning, I feel overwhelmed (a phrase often used by Western speaking languages)."

Later on, children of the later generation always sang it to entertain themselves and also whenever they saw the bird in their vicinity.

Richard Kaweesa, an artist and the producer of Museveni's famous 'Mpenkoni' song said it was used as a political tool to communicate to the young people.

"It was a deliberate strategy. I released the song on Facebook and thought I would get arrested but instead it worked in his favour."          

Kaweesa however declined to comment about the just released 'Yengoma' song, saying it was recorded in Runyankore, a language he does not understand.


Reactions from NRM members
    

Frank Tumwebaze, Minister for Presidency: I have not listened to the song. However I have heard that it is a hit.

Rogers Mulindwa, NRM Secretariat Spokesperson: I have listened to 'Yengoma' but I cannot ascertain whether the voice in the song is that of President Museveni.

Kenneth Omona, the Deputy Treasurer in the NRM Secretariat: I really do not know [giggles].. I have not had the time to listen to it.
 

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