Coca-Cola Rated Next contestant: I am out but not done yet

By Caroline Ariba

Issah Bwogo aka Draei who was recently evicted from the Coca-Cola rated next competition wrote a touching statement on his Facebook wall that is, Draei Bitc Ludite.

The humble fella, whose song choice was majorly to blame for his eviction, was quick to show gratitude and give an explanation for his eviction.

"Hello Friends, today I want to announce to you that basing on the received votes, I couldn't stay in the competition," he started. "Growing up in Fort portal teaching myself everything, with no one to help me," he sort of explains his shortfalls.

He then reminisced of how he was discouraged a thousand times from pursuing a music career and stick to education alone.

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He carried on about how he couldn't have imagined making it up to the top 10 of the Coca-Cola Rated Next sing it Season 3.

"I feel humbled making it from 3,000 contestants to the best 78, to 28 then to the top 10. I have enjoyed my stay here. I have all the people I desired to meet," he said. 

"I have paid no coin to be on TV, Radio, and social media and in all the papers," he tells of the advantages of being on such a show.

Draei confesses that the toughest thing about competitions is that there is a single winner.

"I must have done poor song choices but that does not define me. I sing english and my language, so be not surprised in that category i did," he asserts, just before he softens up.

"God was executing his will. Am happy the world now knows I exist, am happy I represented my town, am happy being the first person from Fort Portal to get this far in #CRN3," he says.


Malaika Nnyanzi(C) presents Elijah Kisakye (L) and Issa Bwango aka Draei(R) after being evicted

The soft spoken fella who won the hearts of the competition's judges right from his first audition believes he has paved way for many other artistes in his town.

He diverts back to his time in the competition and tells of how tough it was for all that were on probation.

He gets emotional: "my last performance was not saving at any point. My votes were few. It emotionally tortures being in competitions and I wouldn't wish to be a judge," he said.

He then thanks God for his strength and wishes his friend Elijah Kisakye, also recently evicted a quick recovery and also spares a moment to congratulate Prudence.

He thanks his fans for voting; "words always fail me, but I want to thank all you my friends for voting, supporting, loving and trusting me."

Getting even more emotional, a student of Mountains of the Moon University says: "You have been always glued on TV to see me perform. You have voted tirelessly, you guys have shared my photos, made them your profile pictures, you have announced me on radio and in papers, and you guys have done a great job!"



Bwogo outdid himself on this one. "Thank you for loving Tooro, thank you for loving talent, thank you for loving me. Expect the best from me. Backstage, studios needed me signed so we are headed for good," he celebrates.

He then thanks fellow contestants, but spares time for the show host, judges and everyone involved.

"Thank you Malaika, thank you judges, thank you friends in Kampala, thank you my designer, thank you Urban TV, Ivan, Dan M, Joweria etc..."

He ends with a special message for his people back home; "Thank you 'FortPorterians', it is our time."

He adds a special message to them in Lutoro: "Mwebale Abatooro kunkoma. Mwebale kungonza mwebale Kunsagika. Yours, Draei#CRN3Ahangirize Agutamba."

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Related to the story

Elijah and Draei bow out of the Coca-Cola Rated Next competition