Music fraternity mourns fallen singer Daudi Mugema

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Uganda’s music fraternity is mourning the sudden death of singer Daudi Mugema, who passed away on Tuesday, June 24, in a hotel room in Gulu city.

Mugema, a band musician, was known for songs including Katonda W’abanaku, Mpayo Chance, Kaalaala, and Eddogo Mubayimbi. He also collaborated with several prominent artists, including Ronald Mayinja.

Close friends said Mugema had travelled to Gulu on the invitation of Gen. Salim Saleh, who had been supporting him financially with his medical expenses. Gen. Saleh, a presidential advisor on military matters and coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), is reported to have recently funded Mugema’s trip to Turkey, where he underwent surgery for cancer-related complications.

Mugema had earlier shared with his fans that his health troubles began after his detention at Kireka Special Investigations Unit for undisclosed reasons. He had battled cancer-related complications in his leg for over four years and had at one point appealed to fans and music lovers to help him raise sh60 million for treatment.

Music promoter Tony Ssempijja, who had also travelled to Gulu, said Mugema had checked into Sanyu Guest House while awaiting a meeting with Gen. Saleh on Tuesday morning.

“This was not the first time that he travelled to Gulu. He has been regularly meeting Gen. Saleh, who helped him not only with medical bills but also with personal needs,” Ssempijja said, adding that his death had come as a huge shock to colleagues and relatives.

By Tuesday morning, Mugema’s body had been taken to the mortuary at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital as arrangements were made to transport it back to Kampala.

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, a close friend of the deceased, said he received the news while in Nairobi. “It is a big shock. I had travelled to Nairobi, but I received a phone call this morning announcing his death,” Lukwago said.

Lukwago and Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana both featured in Mugema’s video for Mpaayo Chance, in which the ailing singer appealed to God for another chance to care for his children. The video also showed his afflicted leg, and Mugema had expressed hope of one day returning to full health.

Lukwago also appears in several photos with Mugema, including at the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, where they met the ambassador who issued him a visa for treatment abroad. The Lord Mayor said he had also assisted Mugema in securing his release from detention. “We shall miss him dearly,” he said.

Veteran musician Ronald Mayinja described Mugema as friendly and persistent. “He approached many artists asking to collaborate. We produced a song together, Bakulemesa Tebalivaayo, and he has been a great friend,” Mayinja said, adding that Mugema was a regular figure among musicians in Makindye.

He added that a group of artists had gathered at the National Theatre to organise a funeral van to collect the body from Gulu, as arrangements were made with the family for a vigil and burial.