It is exactly 19 years since the legendary musician Elly Wamala went to be with the Lord on August 22, 2004 at Mulago Referral Hospital in Kampala, where he succumbed to throat cancer.
Born on December 13, 1935 , Wamala was one of Uganda’s first musicians to release a recorded song and have it become a commercial hit in the 1950s. At the time of his demise, Wamala was glorified as the father of Uganda’s music recording industry.
His song Nabutono caught the attention of Kabaka Edward Mutesa, and he would often invite Wamala to perform the song for him during various private ceremonies.
By the time of his death, he had released over 60 songs, which include Boda Boda, Talanta, Nkole Mpakase, Lowoza Kunze, Nabutono,Nabutono Josephine, Viola, Pope Paul, Akaana Ka Kawalya, and Ebinyumu Ebyaffe, among others.
In 2014, as a way to celebrate the late Wamala’s life, his family decided to collaborate with Ugandan musicians that were popular then to redo over 15 of his songs. Musicians like Jose Chameleone, Iryn Namubiru, Irene Ntale, Juliana Kanyomozi, Radio and Weasel, Aziz Azion, Nince Henry, Chris Evans, Bobi Wine, Rema Namakula, and many others were given rights to perform and record the songs.
