Speaker Among roots for rallies Ugandans for Makoma concert at Kololo

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The Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, on Thursday (March 5), rallied Ugandans across the country to attend the New Vision’s 40th anniversary celebrations at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2026.

Among hosted Makoma band lead vocalist Natalie Makoma and her sister Sachi Basaki at her home in Nakasero, where she thanked Vision Group chief executive officer Don Wanyama for bringing the group to Uganda for a praise and worship event, noting that Uganda is a God-fearing country.

“We have always told people that Uganda is a God-fearing country. Wanyama, I want to thank you for being a very friendly person and inviting people from outside Uganda to come and see what Uganda is. I am also happy that we are hosting holy people during this holy month,” Among said.

She said she was “very humbled to host ladies like Natalie and Basaki. I am actually very proud when I see ladies in higher positions, it makes me proud, it makes me know that as women of Uganda and Africa, we are somewhere. I love your music so much, and because of that, I have organised, and my team will be joining you at Kololo on Friday. But most importantly, what you are doing for us at New Vision at 40 is a very important thing. It actually coincides with our President at 40 and the National Resistance Movement Government at 40. That is a very important function to us as a country, and we must applaud our brother Wanyama for what he is doing,” said Among as she booked 10 tables valued at sh30m.

Among said Vision Group is a government-founded entity, and that whatever it was doing had full consent from government.

She thanked President Yoweri Museveni for elevating and valuing women. “When you get in political appointments, the women are at 65%, which is a very big plus for the President.”

She welcomed Makoma to Uganda. “When they told me they wanted me to host you in the office, I said no, if they are ladies, let them come home. In our culture, they say, you cannot be my friend if you don’t know where I come from. Now you are my true friends,” Among stated.

Natalie thanked the Speaker for hosting them and representing women. “We don’t see a lot of powerful women, but I can see in you the beauty and this beautiful heart of yours shining in your face. That is why the Lord blessed you, and he will keep on blessing you. Thank you for hosting us, and because we are servants of God, we are asking God to give you everything that you want. May your work be fruitful. May the Holly Spirit guide you in everything that you say because you are representing us, women. It is not easy in Africa for women, and it’s not an easy seat. So, God will guide you. He will give you triple what you are asking. Put him first in your heart because I can see God is shining in you,” Natalie said.

Among, who said she was overwhelmed by Natalie’s comments, said, “That it has come from a person who knows me for the first time, and then I said, I think God has spoken through her. I can assure you, in whatever we do, we do it for humanity and for the good of our people, country and everybody in the world. I wish I could have a chat with you more,” Among stated.

The Speaker said that as a country, Uganda had a president who was loving and believed in serving the nation, the people of Uganda and Africa at large.

“He is a Pan-Africanist, and you are not here by mistake. You are here because this is where you belong. Being an African, we must love each other. I have always told people that our African problems can be solved locally. They need local solutions,” Among said.

Among assured the Makoma band that Uganda was a peaceful country and that they would enjoy their short stay.

Wanyama thanked the Speaker for hosting the Makoma band, Vision Group and Pacific Events, led by director Eng. Ronald Kiiza Matovu, who are the core organisers of the event.

“Like you have indicated, we placed a request to you at very short notice that we had this special group of visitors, and we thought it would be good for you to at least interface with them, and despite your busy schedule, you accepted to give us your precious time. We don’t take that for granted,” Wanyama said.

“This year the Vision Group makes 40 years, just like you have put it, it's also significant because our President and the NRM government make 40 years. It looks like we are joined at the him which is obviously a good thing. We shall be turning 40 on March 19, but we thought it's important as we start this journey of our 40-year celebration and as we look forward to the next 40 years, we take a moment to just reflect, praise and worship. As we looked around with our friends Pacific, we could not find a better-fitting gospel group like Makoma. So we reached out to them, they said they loved Uganda. They were last here 25 years ago, and they agreed to come back, entertain, praise and worship with them.”

Wanyama thanked the Speaker and the institution of Parliament for the partnership they have with Vision Group.

“Just last weekend, you joined us at the harvest money expo, and again I want to thank you for coming to check on us and the commitment you made not just to support us but the wider agriculture industry in this country.”