One of the most popular hits by Rabadaba is Bwekiri (meaning thats the way it is), released in 2009.

Popular musicians in Uganda are the biggest local celebrities.

Musicians have in recent years increasingly used their music, regardless of genre, to relay a message and encourage social and economic change.

The main choice of language that cuts across all the music genres is Luganda, with some artists mixing it with English and more recently Swahili to reach a wider audience.

This text provides an overview of some of the key popular genres in Uganda.

The term Kadongo Kamu means One Guitar in Luganda, one of the local languages in Uganda.

Because this style of music is best enjoyed by cultural loyalists in the Buganda region, this style of music is almost always guaranteed to have an audience.

Other genres drew from the Kadongo Kamu style and it thus became the most influential style of music.

Among the pioneers was Fred Masagazi, the first musician to play a bass guitar and sing alongside it in the early 1960s, soon after Uganda was declared an independent state.

Christophe Sebaguka and Elly Wamala are considered the founders of this style of music and were both involved in the musical events at the 1962 independence celebrations.

Other musicians followed in the 1980s and 90s, including Herman Basude, Fred Ssebatta and Paul Kafeero.

One outstanding musician who still sings in this genre is Dan Mugalula.

It takes after Afrobeat or band music, even if this style shares little similarity with Afrobeat.

The roots of this genre can be traced back as far back as when Uganda got its independence and bands sprung up in the various parts of the country.

This musical style followed closely behind the birth of Kadongo Kamu and was almost a refined or modern style of the Kadongo Kamu.

It was highly influenced by soukous and Congolese styles of music.

The first band to emerge that has stood the test of time is Afrigo Band, who released their first album, Omutanda Gyali, in 1994 and became the first group in Uganda to release their music on CD.

The emergence of Kidandali also came with younger renowned musicians like Bobi Wine, dubbed the Ghetto President.

Coming from a humble background, Bobis style of music and the content therein resonates with rural and urban people alike.

Radio Weasel have recently risen to the top of the pile after being nominated at the BET Music Awards in 2013 for Best Upcoming Artist from Africa.

It started during the early to mid-90s and draws heavily from the music of international artists like Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton, who served as inspiration to local pioneers like Rasta Rob and Ragga Dee.

Both artists still embrace this style of music but have been overshadowed by younger artists.

Dancehall in Uganda is closely intertwined with Kidandali, with musicians frequently crossing over between the two genres.

Although most dance hall artists sing in their local tongue, which in most cases is Luganda, they will occasionally mimic Jamaican patois.

Some notable musicians who produce this kind of music include Cindy, Bella, Rabadaba and upcoming musician Irene Ntale.

Waptrick Bunganda Song