Rated Next auditions kick off in in lira

By Caroline Ariba

It is on. The Coca-Cola Rated Next singing talent search has hit the ground running out here in Lira.

Everyone is here: comedians, businessmen, teachers, those in their second and third auditions; the physically impaired, name it. 

Do not be fooled though, this did not guarantee an easy search for Judges Esther Nabaasa, Siima Sabiti and Ken Daniels Kayongo.



Judges Siima Sabiti and Ken Daniels Kayongo give their verdict

Dressed like a pimp of sorts, gospel singer and business man Moses Galimaka took to a rather folk performance, as was put by Esther Nabaasa.

The fella seemed to enjoy himself, going round and round in dance, even holding an imaginary spear as he sung, God is the provider.

 “Thank you for a very animated performance, however, I felt very much shut out,” Siima Sabiti said.


Contestants registering

Interestingly though, Ken Daniels disagreed; “it felt like I was in a play, I felt your energy.” In the end, judges Esther and Siima said no.

Then came Munu Bernard, a Kyambogo graduate who manages a washing bay. He sung John Legend’s All of you. Judges thought he did not sound natural enough, and was told he sounded Karaoke-ish.

Then Kevin Alaro, a 35 year old counsellor came and just took the drama a notch higher with a song that told of her love for Coca-Cola.


Andrew, he said his role model is Young Mulo, got a no

 “Coca-Cola are you at home my dear…there is no time to waste…all I need is to drink you…” she cried out.

She was accused of singing a nursery rhyme. They shouldn’t have because the auditions went from rhymes to threats.

“A gonna rock…jeeey. A born in the gerro, a leave in the ghetto, a die in the gerro,” a contestant sang in a lamentation none of the judges could quite fathom.

 It was all lost until Lil Sky, now in his third audition came and did John Legend’s All of me, and attempted to make it his own. 

Registering for the auditions in Lira

“Am all for making a song your own, but Lil Sky no…” Esther Nabaasa shook her head.

She however, just like Ken Daniels thought he had something good and gave him a yes, in spite of the fact that Siima thought he was not still there yet. But all it took was a yes from two judges, and he was through.

21 year old Innocent was the next to get a yes after he sung singer Jamal’s Onosinyiwa.

However like Lil Sky, his was not a smooth performance and he struggled a lot. 

“There is a lot of beauty in simplicity,” Siima advised him before she went ahead to give him a chance to improve tomorrow.

 Next to make it to Day Two was 26 year old Abeshida. Never mind that her first attempt was shaky, judges gave her a second chance and she still had a shaky performance of Adele’s Someone like you. They agreed that she needed a bit of work, but is good.

By the lunch-time break, only three have made it.  The auditions continue in the afternoon.