UCC Launches Atakulaaba Initiative to Preserve Kadongo Kamu Heritage and Support Veteran Artists

By Ben Musanje

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has launched the Atakulaaba Heritage Music Initiative, an ambitious national campaign aimed at preserving, digitizing, and promoting Uganda’s Kadongo Kamu music heritage while creating sustainable economic opportunities for veteran artists whose work has shaped the country’s cultural identity for decades.

The initiative was unveiled during an Executive Dinner hosted by UCC Executive Director, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, bringing together cultural leaders, government officials, media executives, musicians, and stakeholders from Uganda’s creative industry.

The programme seeks to rescue and preserve valuable Kadongo Kamu recordings that risk being lost due to ageing archives, deteriorating analogue formats, and declining exposure among younger generations. Through digitization, restoration, cataloguing, and distribution on modern digital platforms, UCC hopes to ensure that one of Uganda’s most influential music genres remains accessible and relevant for future generations.

Speaking at the event, Thembo said Uganda’s cultural heritage should be understood not only as history but also as an economic resource that requires urgent protection in an increasingly digital world. He emphasized that the country needed to digitize, protect, and monetize its culture in order to enable artists to thrive, preserve stories, and keep younger generations connected to their roots.

For decades, Kadongo Kamu music has served as a powerful medium for storytelling, public education, social commentary, and entertainment. Through its lyrical narratives and relatable themes, the genre has documented social change and reflected the aspirations and challenges of ordinary Ugandans, making it a significant pillar of the country’s cultural memory.

Thembo further explained that the Atakulaaba Initiative is intended not only to preserve musical works but also to ensure that artists continue to benefit financially from their creativity. He noted that the objective is to enable musicians to earn from their work while safeguarding the stories and messages embedded in Kadongo Kamu music.

He also revealed that UCC intends to make the campaign an annual programme, beginning with targeted support for veteran musicians, many of whom are advanced in age and face financial challenges despite their contribution to Uganda’s cultural development.

The first beneficiaries include renowned Kadongo Kamu musicians Dan Mugula, known for songs such as Baalaba Taliiwo, Essalambwa, and Abagagga Bantumye, and Hadijah Namale, celebrated for her popular song Mukulike Omwaka.

According to Thembo, the initiative will involve acquiring and preserving musical works through a dedicated content preservation programme while ensuring artists retain ownership rights to their creations.

He explained that a structured system had been established through which songs would be acquired and stored, while artists would continue to retain their intellectual property rights. He noted that the music industry had shifted from an ownership model to an immediate access model, and stressed the need to position artists to benefit from this new reality.

A key component of the initiative will be facilitating the migration of heritage content onto digital platforms, creating new opportunities for licensing, royalties, and global distribution. UCC believes this approach will not only preserve Uganda’s musical legacy but also generate income streams for artists and their families.

The commission is also mobilizing stakeholders from government, the private sector, cultural institutions, media houses, and the broader creative industry to support veteran musicians who have made immense contributions to Uganda’s cultural landscape.

The launch of Atakulaaba builds on UCC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s creative economy through digital innovation and local content development.

Thembo highlighted the commission’s partnership with the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry, noting that it had contributed to the development of the film sector into a catalogue of more than 3,000 movies, with around 150 films produced annually.

The Executive Dinner also served as a preview of the Atakulaaba Heritage Music Showcase, scheduled for July 31, 2026, at Sheraton Gardens in Kampala. The showcase is expected to bring together legendary musicians, cultural leaders, broadcasters, content creators, researchers, students, and members of the public in a celebration of Uganda’s musical heritage.

Beyond preservation, UCC says the initiative seeks to reconnect younger audiences with indigenous music traditions, strengthen intergenerational appreciation of culture, and establish a national repository of heritage content that can support research, education, broadcasting, and cultural tourism.

The evening featured performances from some of Uganda’s most celebrated Kadongo Kamu artists, who entertained guests with two songs each. Performers included Abdul Mulaasi, Matia Luyima, Fred Ssebbaale, Dan Mugula, Mathias Walukagga, Hadijah Namale, and Fred Ssebatta, whose performances captivated the audience and underscored the enduring appeal of the genre.

Several prominent figures attended the event, including Buganda Prince Omulangira David Wasajja, City Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo, Next Media Group proprietor Kin Kariisa, and other distinguished guests from the cultural and business communities.

As Uganda continues to embrace digital transformation, UCC hopes the Atakulaaba Heritage Music Initiative will ensure that the voices, stories, and artistic contributions of Kadongo Kamu legends are preserved, celebrated, and transformed into lasting economic opportunities for generations to come. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).