Sgt. Kifulugunyu for ‘ekisanja’
Jan 27, 2005
After a long lull, Sergeant Kifulugunyu, the soldier, who sings and dances has bounced back with a special patriotic <i>kisanja </i>campaign album for president Yoweri Museveni
By Elvis Basudde
After a long lull, Sergeant Kifulugunyu, the soldier, who sings and dances has bounced back with a special patriotic kisanja campaign album for president Yoweri Museveni, to be distributed free of charge to every Ugandan here and abroad.
The recording of the six-track album titled Fellow Combatant has been sponsored by a group of staunch kisanja agitators, led by Silver Kiwanuka Akiiki, a lawyer-cum businessman and Peter Kamunye, the proprietor of Giant Eagles Enterprises on Kampala road.
Joy Tabula of BK Studio recorded the album, which is expected to be launched by Lt. General Salim Saleh in March at Sunny Hall, Namasuba.
“Yes, we have sponsored Kifulugunyu because he is so far the master of patriotic music in Uganda. The album will be given out free throughout the country and beyond to show support to our president,†says Kiwanuka.
The songs enumerate the achievements of the NRM government since 1986. The album title Fellow Combatant has reggae beat and it is about Museveni’s experience in the bush with his soldiers –– their suffering and struggles which later became their inspiration. It is also a tribute to soldiers who died while liberating their country like Katabalwa, Magala, Seguya and Kazawula.
Other tracks are Webale Museveni (thank you Museveni), Ebirungi byakoze (his achievements), Amina ensoro zamulya, Kibonge, Aishaanganyisha, Amba and Olutalo telulwanika.
In Aishanganyisha, Kifulugunyu introduces a new dance style called Amassebbeke dance, from the sound of the long drum (engalabi-okussebbeka). It is a modification of some kiganda dances. Kifulugunyu has choreographed the dance himself.
“Some of us can use our God-given talent to sensitise the public on various important issues. Not everything must be done by Museveni. I have my material and I can use my music to tell the people the good things we have got from Museveni’s government,†says Kifulugunyu.
The humourous and ever smart soldier prides in his musical talent and is quick to credit himself. “I am a genius. My first album Sankala was number one for six consecutive months on the top chart list in 1992,†he boasts.
Kifulugunyu is the composer of most of the moral boosting songs the Police, Prisons and the army bands use while marching at official state functions. The songs include: Amba and Kino kyekiseera.
“They have not given me copyright fees, but whenever I see them matching majestically to the rhythm of my songs, I feel happy that I have made a tangible contribution to my country,†says the sergeant.
Kifulugunyu boasts he is great fighter and recounts four incidents when he nearly died. The first time he was barely 11 years old when he was attacked by a leopard while grazing his parent’s goats.
The second time was when he he fought in the Uganda-Zaire (now Congo) war in 1964, the third time; when he took part in the Black September war in 1992, and also during Mutukula invasion between 1978-1979.
Kifulugunyu started singing from childhood in 1955. He was inspired by his elder brother, the late Eclas Kawalya. “Singing is in our vein. Don’t you see our daughter Joanita Kawalya is a great diva?†he asks.
He joined the army in 1964. He is based at Bombo military headquarters.
He was sent to the Middle East in 1972, and he also trained in Israel and Czechoslovakia in armed personnel carrier (APC). Kifulugunyu is one of the only two remaining commandos trained in Anthems-Greece in 1968. The other remaining one is Captain Abusolom Tinkamanyire based in Bombo.
Born to Steven Ssempagala 54 years ago, he was nicknamed Kifulugunyu by his colleagues while in the bush because of his amazing antics.
He was incorporated in the NRA fighting force in 1983. He says Museveni’s favourite patriotic lyrics are: Kino kyekiseera ffe tulina okuwangula tusobole okufuna eddembe eritagwawo (This is the time to fight and win to achieve everlasting peace). After Uganda was liberated in 1986, Kifulugunyu became the official artiste for the NRM. In 1988, he released Supper Africa album, followed by The Sixties album comprising popular patriotic songs like Entanda, Yoweri Uganda, Kyamuwendo, Ensi eno and Zimbabwe.
He wants to retire from the army after launching his campaign album in March. “I want to join civilian life and team up with other artistes to intensify the campaign for Museveni’s re-election in 2006,†he says.
After a long lull, Sergeant Kifulugunyu, the soldier, who sings and dances has bounced back with a special patriotic kisanja campaign album for president Yoweri Museveni, to be distributed free of charge to every Ugandan here and abroad.
The recording of the six-track album titled Fellow Combatant has been sponsored by a group of staunch kisanja agitators, led by Silver Kiwanuka Akiiki, a lawyer-cum businessman and Peter Kamunye, the proprietor of Giant Eagles Enterprises on Kampala road.
Joy Tabula of BK Studio recorded the album, which is expected to be launched by Lt. General Salim Saleh in March at Sunny Hall, Namasuba.
“Yes, we have sponsored Kifulugunyu because he is so far the master of patriotic music in Uganda. The album will be given out free throughout the country and beyond to show support to our president,†says Kiwanuka.
The songs enumerate the achievements of the NRM government since 1986. The album title Fellow Combatant has reggae beat and it is about Museveni’s experience in the bush with his soldiers –– their suffering and struggles which later became their inspiration. It is also a tribute to soldiers who died while liberating their country like Katabalwa, Magala, Seguya and Kazawula.
Other tracks are Webale Museveni (thank you Museveni), Ebirungi byakoze (his achievements), Amina ensoro zamulya, Kibonge, Aishaanganyisha, Amba and Olutalo telulwanika.
In Aishanganyisha, Kifulugunyu introduces a new dance style called Amassebbeke dance, from the sound of the long drum (engalabi-okussebbeka). It is a modification of some kiganda dances. Kifulugunyu has choreographed the dance himself.
“Some of us can use our God-given talent to sensitise the public on various important issues. Not everything must be done by Museveni. I have my material and I can use my music to tell the people the good things we have got from Museveni’s government,†says Kifulugunyu.
The humourous and ever smart soldier prides in his musical talent and is quick to credit himself. “I am a genius. My first album Sankala was number one for six consecutive months on the top chart list in 1992,†he boasts.
Kifulugunyu is the composer of most of the moral boosting songs the Police, Prisons and the army bands use while marching at official state functions. The songs include: Amba and Kino kyekiseera.
“They have not given me copyright fees, but whenever I see them matching majestically to the rhythm of my songs, I feel happy that I have made a tangible contribution to my country,†says the sergeant.
Kifulugunyu boasts he is great fighter and recounts four incidents when he nearly died. The first time he was barely 11 years old when he was attacked by a leopard while grazing his parent’s goats.
The second time was when he he fought in the Uganda-Zaire (now Congo) war in 1964, the third time; when he took part in the Black September war in 1992, and also during Mutukula invasion between 1978-1979.
Kifulugunyu started singing from childhood in 1955. He was inspired by his elder brother, the late Eclas Kawalya. “Singing is in our vein. Don’t you see our daughter Joanita Kawalya is a great diva?†he asks.
He joined the army in 1964. He is based at Bombo military headquarters.
He was sent to the Middle East in 1972, and he also trained in Israel and Czechoslovakia in armed personnel carrier (APC). Kifulugunyu is one of the only two remaining commandos trained in Anthems-Greece in 1968. The other remaining one is Captain Abusolom Tinkamanyire based in Bombo.
Born to Steven Ssempagala 54 years ago, he was nicknamed Kifulugunyu by his colleagues while in the bush because of his amazing antics.
He was incorporated in the NRA fighting force in 1983. He says Museveni’s favourite patriotic lyrics are: Kino kyekiseera ffe tulina okuwangula tusobole okufuna eddembe eritagwawo (This is the time to fight and win to achieve everlasting peace). After Uganda was liberated in 1986, Kifulugunyu became the official artiste for the NRM. In 1988, he released Supper Africa album, followed by The Sixties album comprising popular patriotic songs like Entanda, Yoweri Uganda, Kyamuwendo, Ensi eno and Zimbabwe.
He wants to retire from the army after launching his campaign album in March. “I want to join civilian life and team up with other artistes to intensify the campaign for Museveni’s re-election in 2006,†he says.