Biography

Kenneth Mugabi (born 12 September 1982) is an Ugandan singer and songwriter. He started his career with the Qwela Band. He also participated in the Tusker Project Fame and later on the Coca-Cola Rated Next Competition before becoming a solo musician. Kenneth currently has three studio albums.

Early life and education

In 2010, in his senior six vacation,Mugabi, together with Isaac Labong and Shaban, formed a rap musical group called Aliens Aly. At university, he composed his first song called Tondeka, which was based on a previous relationship.

In 2011, Mugabi joined Makerere University where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.

Career

2011 - 2020

In 2011 he participated in the Tusker Project Fame competition but did not make it to the top three.

In 2012, Mugabi did his internship with Qwela Band where he was mentored by the founder of the band, Joe Kahirimbanyi. He later released his first studio album called Kibun'omu. In the same year he competed in the Coca-Cola Rated Next Competition where he performed songs he had composed himself, which included Gwe weka, Nyonyozi, Amaaso G’otulo and Kibun’omu. Here, he was second runner up after Daniel Kaweesa and Rebecca Naziri.

In January 2014, Mugabi performed the single Nnubuka at the launch of the second season of Coca-Cola Rated Next competition

In November 2015, at Zone 7 bar, Mugabi was voted to play at the December’s edition of Blankets and Wines.

In May 2016, he performed at Uganda’s quarterly music event, Qwela Junction and Doadoa performing Arts Market and in September and October, performed at the Godown Gig in Choices Pub, Nairobi.

In October 2018 he performed his maiden concert, Strings of My Soul which was hosted by Richard Tuwangye and in December, he was an opening act in the Johnnie Walker Soul Safari Concert which featured Ginuwine.

In 2019, Mugabi released his second album called Ugandan. On the 9 February in the same year, Mugabi had a live performance at Fezah. Later in August, he performed at the Bayimba Music Festival in Lunkulu island. On 23 November, he performed at “Nsiimye Thanksgiving Dinner” at the Kampala Serena Hotel which was hosted by Patrick Salvado Idringi and on 30 November, he shared the stage with Mya in the Johnny Walker All Music Safari.

In 2020 on the 14 February, Mugabi, together with Janzi band and Sandra Suubi, entertained at Route 256. On 24 April he separated with his manager Francis Biggie and in the same month signed up with Karizm Management. In August, he performed in the first online edition of Blankets and Wines. When digital music distribution increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mugabi's songs were among the most highly distributed by East African Records.

2021 - present

In November 2021, Mugabi released the album People of The Land. Only 50 physical copies were to be released and sold at $100 each

In January 2022 Mugabi released the People of The Land album on digital streaming platforms. The album, which featured 23 tracks with three collaborations with top Ugandan artists was released by Black Market Records. In October he unveiled the visuals for the Under Wraps single off the People of The Land album.

Awards

Discography

Studio Albums

Kibun'omu (2016)

Ugandan (2019)

People of The Land (2022)

Philanthropy

In July 2021, together with Martha Kay, Josephine Karunji, Hilda Bahati, Ronnie Habasa, Cooper C-Way and Tim Sabiti, Mugabi partnered with The Remnant Generation, a Christian based Non-governmental organization to launch 1000 faces of change campaign to raise 1 billion Uganda shillings to rescue and restore into society survivors of sexual abuse and pregnant teenage girls

In August 2022, Mugabi composed a song called Like Them for the Merck Foundation under the "Educating Linda" program to support Girl's Education across Africa